Joan Whitman, a former Style editor for The New York Times, died on Sunday, July 26, at her home in Southampton. She was 86.
Ms. Whitman had retired from The Times in 1977. The cause of death was emphysema, according to her stepsons, Daniel S. Whitman and Peter A Whitman.
A graduate of Oberlin College, Ms. Whitman worked at the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, before joining The Times in 1955. She was deputy Family-Style editor from 1960 until 1974, when she was appointed editor.
After leaving The Times, she was a freelance book editor and co-author of “Cooking Techniques,” with Beverly Cox, and “Recipes Into Type,” with Dolores Simon. She was the editor of many books by Craig Claiborne, the former food editor of The Times.
In Southampton, Ms. Whitman was on the board of the Friends of the Rogers Memorial Library, and manager of its popular book sale. She had been on the steering committee of the John Steinbeck Project for many years. She also enjoyed playing duplicate bridge at tournaments in Water Mill.
Her husband, Alden, died in 1990. In addition to her stepsons, she is survived by a stepdaughter, Pamela Falk.
No memorial service is planned.
on Jul 27, 2015