Joan Gay Kent, Former North Hempstead Historian, Dies

Joan Gay Kent, formerly of Port Washington, has died.

Kent had lived in Port Washington for 30 years, and held leadership roles in many local and town organizations.

“There are very few individuals who have had as large an impact on the preservation of our area’s history and culture,” Chris Bain, the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society president, said of Joan Kent, in an email message sent to the subscribers of the organization’s newsletter.

Joan Kent’s many accomplishments, according to the Historical Society, include:

• Author of Discovering Sands Point: Its History, Its People, Its Places, the massive 234 page, hardbound illustrated book published in 2000
• Past President of the Board of the Port Washington Library
• Past Historian, Town of North Hempstead
• Former Member, Town Landmarks Preservation Commission
• Long-time member of Manhasset Bay Yacht Club
• Active member of the League of Women Voters
• Former newspaper and business magazine editor
• Award winning advertising copywriter

More recently, Kent had written for Port Washington Patch, sharing her deep knowledge about the community with readers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are made to a favorite charity, according to the Historical Society.

Photo (dated 2001): Pictured are May Newburger, Supervisor; Joan Kent, Town Historian; Doris Groene, Fire District Liaison; Michelle Schimel, Town Clerk; Ellen Birnbaum, archivist and Marie Teel. Credit: northhempsteadny.gov

Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts here

More on Patch:

• Blizzard 2015: Long Island Snowfall Totals
• Long Island Digs Out From Blizzard, State Sends Help to Hard Hit Suffolk
• Wantagh-Levittown Volunteers Save 2 Lives During Blizzard
• Teen Dies in Snow-Tubing Accident in Huntington
• Snow Baby! Couple Delivers Newborn in Car in Manhasset
• Police: 1 Dead, 2 Critically Injured in Deer Park Crash