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Joan E. Crothers

Date of Death: March 27, 2018

Date of Birth: April 15, 1931

Biography:

BRUNSWICK - Joan Elizabeth (Pankratz) Crothers died in the early morning hours, March 27, 2018 after having suffered a massive stroke on March 18th. She was born April 15, 1931 in Toledo, Ohio, the eldest child of Margaret (Hone) Pankratz and Howard Gustav Pankratz.

After graduating from Ottawa Hills High School in 1949, she enrolled in Oberlin
College, Class of 1953. While at Oberlin, she wrote for The Oberlin Review and the
College's Literary Magazine at the time, 'Yeoman'. She continued to publish poems in
literary journals intermittently and maintained a deep interest in reading and writing
poetry throughout her life.

During her time at Oberlin, she met Charles Gordon Crothers and his BSA 650
"Golden Flash" motorcycle. Jumping on the back, they headed east, marrying in
November 1953 and settling in the greater Boston area. Together they had four
children, raising them in Lexington, Massachusetts and during the summers down east
in Sorrento, Maine.

Once accused of being "too fascinating", Joan was that and more. A champion of the
underdog or the outsider, she ran for town office, campaigned for clean air and water
legislation, wrote articles for the 'Lexington Minuteman' and fiercely supported her
children's varied interests in sports, theater, architecture, engineering, music and
sailing.

After her divorce she settled in Brunswick in 1987, maintaining an almost equidistant
residence between old ties in Lexington and the family summer house on Frenchman's
Bay. She was an anchor to her children, grandchildren and the many lifelong friends
and acquaintances who were drawn to her.

She is survived by her sister, Nancy (Pankratz) Ames of Evanston, Illinois, children
Bronwen Crothers, of Brunswick, Maine, Jock Crothers (Lisa Heyward) of Sorrento
Maine, Alicia Crothers Harrison (Todd Harrison) of Cambridge, Mass., daughter-in-law,
Marianne Lagerklint of Stockholm, Sweden. Five grandchildren, Brenna Crothers (Jay)
Magill, Conlan Crothers, Helena Crothers-Villers, Miles Harrison and Ross Harrison.
Her youngest son, Bronson Crothers, pre-deceased her.

A celebration of her life will be held in Sorrento in early July.

Those wishing to make a donation in her memory, please consider: Frenchman Bay
Conservancy, PO Box 150, Hancock, ME 04640. http://frenchmanbay.org