Joan Ellen Pransky
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, NJ, passed away peacefully on October 22, at the age of 79. Joan spent her life embodying the virtues of kindness, courage, and resilience, leaving a legacy that will be deeply remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Joan was born in New Jersey, growing up in Bergen County. As a young girl, Joan learned how to think fast on her feet by trading wisecracks with the top comics in show business, important training for a budding trial attorney. Comedians like Buddy Hackett and Corbet Monia were frequent visitors to the home of her parents, Sharon and John Pransky. She learned, early on, to stand toe-to-toe with anyone and developed an agile, creative mind lethal to the Opposition.
Joan's passion for civil rights began in high school. Educated at Syracuse University for her undergraduate studies and later at Seton Hall Law School, Joan pursued her passion for justice, including organizing the student body in favor of anti-war and social justice actions. Joan was admitted to the Bar in 1974. She was a Legal Services attorney specializing in housing, a Rutgers Law School professor, before opening her own private practice in Montclair, NJ.
Her career in law was marked by dedication and hard work, as she consistently prioritized the well-being and rights of her clients. She was admired for her sharp mind, unyielding loyalty, and her ability to listen deeply to the needs of those seeking her counsel.
Joan was not only a formidable professional - admired for her integrity and vision - but also a devoted mother to her beloved daughter, Leah, and devoted grandmother to Zumi and Mari, and Leah's partner Tim. Her family was the center of her world, and she constantly demonstrated the power of being family-focused through her tireless support, unconditional love, and generous spirit. 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. Deeply committed to civil rights, Joan gave her energy, time, and expertise to advance meaningful change. She was renowned for her generosity and active involvement in local causes, where her passion for helping others shone brightly. With a listening heart, she was always ready to offer comfort and thoughtful counsel to anyone in need.
Throughout her life, Joan faced challenges with immense strength and grace. Her courage and resilience were sources of inspiration to those around her, traits she imparted to her daughter, Leah, whom she adored beyond measure.
Joan’s 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 and contributing to the betterment of the world, forging deep and meaningful connections with everyone she befriended. She will be remembered not only for her achievements and unwavering strength but for the warmth, love, and light she brought into the world.
Joan Ellen Pransky 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
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