Joan G. Lavinio of Southampton Dies May 21

Joan G. Lavinio of Southampton died peacefully at her home on May 21 at the age of 96 with her daughter and granddaughter at her side.

Born Joan Virginia Giering on July 20, 1928, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, she was the eldest of three daughters to Mary Catherine (Farrell) and Eugene T. Giering, Jr. After graduating from Meyers High School, she attended College Misericordia, Dallas, Pennsylvania, on a full scholarship. During her college years, she spent an extended period traveling abroad with relatives and immersed herself in the culture of Italy where she had the remarkable opportunity to meet Pope Pius XII. She graduated in the Class of 1951 summa cum laude with a B.A. in English and History. Joan relocated to the East End of Long Island to continue her teaching career. It was there where she was introduced to Thomas P. Lavinio by a mutual friend on a blind date, after which he took her on a memorable flight in his 1936 Aeronca C3 sharing his love of aviation and the breathtaking beauty of the Long Island shoreline.

After they married in 1956 and raised a family in Southampton, she later returned to teaching in 1963. She earned her Master’s degree in Education while teaching in Bridgehampton by commuting to Stony Brook for night classes. Mrs. Lavinio dedicated twenty-five years to teaching English and History, starting at East Hampton High School before spending most of her career teaching all grades at Bridgehampton High School, where she also brought stories to life by directing drama productions. Her classroom and stage became places of inspiration, where countless students discovered a love for literature, learning, and the arts through her passion and encouragement. After retiring from teaching in 1982, she began managing the family business, Lavinio Pools, Inc., in Southampton. An avid reader of novels and mysteries, she particularly enjoyed solving crossword puzzles at any level of difficulty, lunching with a few close friends, dining out with family, and attending her grandchildren’s school plays, shows, and dance productions.

Predeceased by her husband of 59 and half years (2015), her son Thomas Jr. (1972), and her youngest sister, Christine Dougherty (2013), of Kingston, Pennsylvania, she is survived by her sister Catherine Rodda of Greenwich, Connecticut, daughters Mary O’Connor and her husband, Neil, of Southampton and Middleburg, Virginia, Elizabeth Lavinio of Southampton, Margaret Saurenman and her husband, Edward, of Southampton and Sebastian, Florida, son Stephen (“Hook”) of Southampton, six grandchildren, Bill and his wife, Michelle, Cornelia, Christopher, Anna, Joani, and Hanna, two great grandchildren, Banyan and Merrick, and cherished nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 2, 2-4pm and 7-9pm at O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home located at 30 Little Plains Rd, Southampton.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 3, at 10am at the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary located at 168 Hill St., Southampton, with burial to follow at 11am at the Jesus and Mary R.C. Cemetery located at 231 County Rd 39A, Southampton.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to the East End Hospice team for their care and support.

Memorial donations may be made to:

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center PO Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106

East End Hospice, PO Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978