Paid Notice: Joan Lorraine Harrington of Stamford, Connecticut, and Amagansett, New York, died on August 7th in Stamford. She was 90.
Joan was born in New York City on October 7, 1934, to Joseph Tubridy, a beat patrolman in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, and Esther, a homemaker. Joan grew up in Chelsea and graduated from a business high school in Greenwich Village. Both of her parents died when she was 14, leaving Joan and her two older sisters to fend for themselves—bolstering her lifelong character attributes of resilience and independence.
Joan led a remarkably full and dynamic life devoted to family, faith, community, charity, cooking, sailing, and various real-estate business ventures. In 1953, Joan came in second place in a New York City-wide competition at taking shorthand. In 1955, while working as one of Sen. Jacob Javits’s secretaries, she was crowned “The Most Beautiful State Employee in the (New York City) Metropolitan Area.”
On October 15, 1955, Joan married Bronx-raised naval officer John E. Harrington, who later rose through the ranks to became chief financial officer of AT&T Communications. They were married for 56 years, until his passing in 2011, and had five children and three grandchildren.
During her marriage, Joan volunteered for various charities, including Meals on Wheels and numerous Catholic charities. She worked part-time as a real-estate agent—and later, when her children were older, became a full-time broker.
Joan was well known for her infectious laugher, her hilarious stories, her generous nature, her charitable deeds — and, above all, for her feistiness and determination.
Joan is survived by three children: Michael J. Harrington (Kristen) of Prairie Village, Kansas; David E. Harrington (Laura) of Stamford; and Joanne P. Harrington of Stamford; and three grandchildren: Kathryn, Christian (Lauren), and Kevin. She was predeceased her husband John E. Harrington (2011), her son John E. Harrington, Jr. (2023), her son Kevin W. Harrington (1983), her sister Mary Tubridy (2011), and her sister, Eileen Tubridy (2003).
Joan’s funeral mass will be held 10 AM on Thursday, August 14th at Holy Spirit Church, Scofieldtown Road, Stamford. Her calling hours will be at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home 104 Myrtle Ave Stamford, CT between 4 and 7 PM on Wednesday, August 13th. She will be interred at Queen of Peace Cemetery in Stamford. In lieu of flowers, mourners are asked to contribute to their favorite charity. To send on-line condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com.
