I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience, who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, who do what has to be done, again and again.
~Marge Piercy
Obituary
Joan Ellen Pransky, a cherished resident of Montclair, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on October 22, at the age of 79. She spent her life embodying the virtues of kindness, courage, and humor, leaving a legacy that will be deeply remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
She was born in New Jersey and grew up in Bergen County. As a young girl, she learned to think on her feet by trading wisecracks with the top comics in show business, like Buddy Hackett and Corbet Monia, who were frequent visitors to the home of her parents, Sharon and John Pransky, and her sister, Frannie.
Her passion for civil rights began at a young age and continued for the rest of her life. As a student at Syracuse University, she threw herself into anti-war and civil rights movements, chaining herself to cars during protests and getting herself kicked out of school for a semester as a result. She continued to pursue her passion for justice at Seton Hall Law School and later became a Legal Services attorney specializing in housing, a clinical professor at Rutgers and Set Hall Law Schools, and finally opening her own private practice in Montclair.
Joan was a tireless advocate for tenants’ rights and housing justice. She played a pivotal role in the growth of the tenant movement in New Jersey and proliferation of tenants’ rights laws across the state. She was a driving force behind the years-long struggle to bring rent control to Montclair, which finally succeeded in April of 2022.
As a lawyer, she was a fighter. She was dedicated to her clients and worked tirelessly to help them with some of their most difficult and personal issues. She was admired for her sharp mind, unyielding loyalty, and her ability to listen deeply to the needs of those seeking her counsel. More than anything, she cared immensely about her clients, many of whom became life-long friends.
Joan was not only a formidable professional – admired for her integrity and vision – but also a devoted mother to her beloved daughter, Leah, and grandmother to Zumi and Mari, and Leah’s partner Tim. She exemplified unconditional love. She prioritized Leah above all, creating a wonderful childhood filled with laughter, adventure, and love. She brought that same joy and dedication to her grandchildren, who adored being with her and whose favorite thing was to join her for her morning coffee. Joan was a role model to many, showing that balancing career and family was not just possible but rewarding.
Her compassion extended well beyond her immediate family, encompassing friends and the broader community. She gave her energy, time, and expertise to advance meaningful change, renowned for her generosity and active involvement in local causes. She was a consistent figure at Town Council meetings, bringing her sharp wit, and when needed, her sharp criticisms. She fought for better and more fair housing and battled for equity in the public schools, even long after her own child had graduated from Montclair High School.
Joan was a wonderful friend. She built deep and lasting friendships during every step of her life. She could be counted on always – to listen and offer advice, to make you roar laughing, and to be by your side in times of need. As many in town know, Joan was connected to almost everyone she met and, after just a few conversations, could form genuine and meaningful relationship that would lead to an enduring friendship. She prioritized community building, and with her friends, moved to Stephen Street where they raised their children running in and out of each other’s home. Those children, now grown, remain friends today.
Throughout her life, she faced challenges with strength and humor. She believed everything in life could be made better with a well-timed joke. Her courage and resilience were sources of inspiration to those around her, traits she imparted to her daughter, Leah, whom she adored beyond measure.
Her passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of her family and friends, yet her spirit will live on through the countless lives she touched. She devoted her time on this earth to uplifting others, loving her friends, and contributing to the betterment of the world. Joan left behind so many physical reminders of her love in all of the beautiful handmade ceramics and wonderful gifts she thoughtfully chose for friends and family during her travels. She will be remembered for the warmth, love, and laughter she brought into the world.
Joan will be deeply missed but forever remembered, her legacy of kindness and determination a beacon for generations to come.
Gallery
Memory wall
Joan's strength, heart, and dedication to Montclair’s rent control movement changed lives and inspired so many of us.
I am so glad she got to see it happen and help make it happen before leaving this earth.
Thank you Joan for standing tall for justice and community.
Her words that leave me with a smile for her gratitude towards others and me in particular at the historic courthouse for a rent control case
"...I am glad you came and you wore your shirt." You will always be remembered — with love, respect, and gratitude.
🕊️AhavaFelicidad🕊️
I met Joan around 2010, in Carla's pottery studio where our friendship took root and grew strong. She was endlessly curious and a perfectionist in her clay work—always full of questions, doubts, and what ifs—yet her pieces always turned out beautiful and perfect in their own quiet way.
We spent many evenings driving together to Carla’s studio, joining our Wednesday night class with Jim, Margaret, Jane, David, and Cara. Those nights were full of laughter, creativity, shared learning and chinese food. Over time, our group—and especially my friendship with Joan—became a source of comfort and strength through life’s ups and downs.
After I moved to the Netherlands, Joan was one of the first people to come visit me there. We traveled through the Netherlands and Belgium together, sharing wonderful meals, admiring beautiful art, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Joan loved good food and delighted in talking about it—the colors, the flavors, the care that went into it.
Her love and admiration for her daughter and her grand children came up in every conversation, a reflection of the deep bond they shared. She also had a way of turning her warmth toward others; for instance her gentle assurance that I was a good mother to my children.
Whenever I came back to visit Montclair, Joan would welcome me into her home and let me stay there. “The key will be under a rock in the front yard,” or “it’s in the mailbox,” she’d say—small gestures that spoke volumes about her trust and open heart. Often she’d be in San Francisco visiting Leah, but she always made sure to return before I left, so we could spend time together. Those reunions were filled with easy laughter and deep conversation.
I will always remember Joan for her strong spirit and thoughtful eye. Her kindness, curiosity, and strength left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew her. Her presence in my life, will always be deeply missed.
If there is a place where loved ones gather, I hope she is there with Carla making beautiful things out of clay. Much love, Veronique
Joan Pransky, New Jersey’s most sought after tenant lawyer died on October 22nd. Joan was a tireless advocate for tenants’ rights and an early member of the Shelterforce Collective in the mid 1970s. She played a pivotal role in the growth of the tenant movement in New Jersey and the advancement of tenant protections written into state law. She was that unique blend of a sharp, creative and persistent lawyer and a community organizer. Joan defended municipal rent ordinances all over the state from legal attacks by the landlord and real estate industry. She represented tenant groups against greedy landlords who made end runs around the law trying to displace poor and working-class tenants. She authored municipal ordinances requiring Emergency Repairs and Landlord Security Deposits.
Pransky was a fierce tenant advocate Joan was a target for a particularly biased judge who harassed poor tenants and their Legal Services lawyers. She worked successfully with tenant leaders to see that judge’s term come to an early end.
In 1973, fresh out of law school Joan joined the Housing Unit at Essex Newark Legal Services, a specialized group of tenant lawyers who worked to empower tenant leaders and their tenant organizations. Joan became a Board Member of the New Jersey Tenant Organization and its Vice President and Legal Counseland an advisor to New Jersey Citizen Action the powerful statewide labor and community coalition. She guided law students at both Seton Hall and Rutgers Law Schools in how to effectively represent tenants and empower them at the same time. Joan never gave up defending tenants after most of her comrades had retired. She was a loyal friend to all the organizers and advocates she worked with over the decades and left an indelible imprint on New Jersey’s movement for better housing. She will be missed by so many.
Written by Patrick Morrissy, a co-founder of Shelterforce and the author of Staking Our Claim: The Fight for Better Housing in the 1970s.
Gathering to Remember
67 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042
1:00pm EST
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