Joan Tyor Carlson Of Sag Harbor Dies January 8

Joan Tyor Carlson, a longtime resident of Sag Harbor Village, died at The Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on January 8. She was 88.

Born and educated in New York City to Milton and Renee Tyor, she attended Hunter College High School, Barnard College, and then later completed her education at William Smith College.

A voracious reader and writer, she worked at various publications such as Collier’s and Billboard magazines, as well as a ghost writer for several autobiographical books.

She loved Block Island, and there she met Richard D. Carlson (deceased) of Shelter Island, a naval architect and sailboat racer, who was relaxing with friends at The Oar during a break from the Storm Trysail Block Island Race Week 1971. Shortly afterwards, they married and moved to Sag Harbor, but always returned to the island in the summer, usually by sailboat.

Joan was a gifted storyteller and was a staff reporter and stringer for many local publications. Though a newcomer to Sag Harbor, she quickly became a great networker, and was generous in helping any friend or acquaintance find a home, a job — and more than few times, played matchmaker (with varying success). Eager to jump into any and all committees, too many to name, she was an involved member of the community. At the suggestion of an antique dealer friend, she started a local antique brochure, with map hand-drawn by her husband, and drove all over the East End to distribute them, making friends and clients along the way. Some dealers preferred to pay in trade, and thus, her Sag Harbor home became quite the collection of folk art “primitives” and other fun and quirky additions.

In her later years, she worked for the East Hampton School District as director of their adult education program. Her gift of networking brought many teachers to the fold and the program thrived.

She survived cancer three times, changing her view on life. “Life is too short and precious to ever do anything I don’t want,” she said.

Her first marriage to Roland Martines of New York City (deceased) ended in divorce, and they had one daughter, Catherine Perry Martines (deceased). She is survived by her other daughter, Dicie Tyor Carlson of Sag Harbor, and her brother Peter Tyor, Winnetka, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Fighting Chance (Sag Harbor), or the Alzheimer’s Foundation. A celebration of her life will happen sometime in the spring.