Joan R. Olshansky

06/16/2006

Joan R. Olshansky, 73, of Squaw Peak Road died late Friday evening at her home following a brief illness. Born March 11, 1933, in New York, daughter of the late Benjamin and Sylvia Scheiner Rosmarin, she graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn and received a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, where she took her first art history courses. She later earned a master's degree in Architectural History from Columbia University. She held a variety of administrative positions for the City of New York, including serving as director of operations for the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, retiring in 1999. Beginning in 1972, she worked for 20 years at the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission, beginning as an architectural historian working a "beat" of historic districts and eventually serving as its executive director. During that time she also contributed to a book on Gracie Mansion. Prior to that, she worked for a number of years at Lyndhurst, a National Trust property in Tarrytown, N.Y.; at Pace University in New York, where she taught art history, and at Of Westchester magazine, for which she wrote feature stories on architecture. She lived in Manhattan and owned a weekend home in Southfield for 20 years before retiring in Great Barrington in 1999. After her retirement, she returned to historic preservation. She worked for the Museum of the Gilded Age at Ventfort Hall in Lenox, as the resident historian, during which time she co-authored a book on the home's history. She also started a private historic preservation consulting business, where she researched the history of area homes for numerous local families. In addition, she was active in many committees and organizations, such as serving on the Great Barrington Historic Districts Commission and the Great Barrington Historical Society. She enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, music, gardening and reading, and was a member of several book groups. She leaves her husband of 54 years, Mark Olshansky, whom she married on June 1, 1952. In addition to her husband, she leaves two sons, Neil Olshansky of Putnam Valley, N.Y. and Stephen Olshansky of Cobleskill, N.Y.; a daughter, Miranda Levin of Bradford, N.H.; a sister, Maxine Shapiro of Sands Point, N.Y., and a granddaughter. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for Joan R. Olshansky, who died Friday, June 16, 2006, will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2006, at noon at FINERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington. Burial will follow in Ahavath Sholom Cemetery in Great Barrington. The family will be receiving visitors at the house on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. She leaves a daughter-in law, Karen Olshansky (Neil), son-in-law Jeff Levin, and a granddaughter, Hannah. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ventfort Hall Association Inc. in care of the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnerty andstevens.com.

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