By Judy Alvarez O’Gorman
FAIR HAVEN – The Two River area lost a beloved icon of the social scene when Joan Lucky, 76, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 20.
Lucky, the original and longtime editor of the Two River People pages, was an important presence at The Two River Times as she sought to amplify the good works of many and shine a spotlight on charities and nonprofits in the area. “Joan Lucky was one of the most kind individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” said Susan Porter, friend and The Two River Times colleague. “Her warmth, grace, optimism and joy in her everyday life made seeing Joan a breath of fresh air each time you saw her.
“Joan was a real gem…one of a kind. She will be truly missed,” said Porter. “She was truly a unique, kind soul. I will always be grateful for our friendship.”
Joan Jackson Lucky was born to James William Jackson and Miriam Monger Jackson on Sept. 25, 1939, and was raised in Mt. Lebanon, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from DePauw University in Indiana in 1961, then promptly married the love of her life, Robert Wendell Lucky, that same year. They moved to Fair Haven, where she was a popular second grade school teacher at Willow Street (Sickles) School in 1965. The Luckys raised their two children, David William and Karen Joan in Fair Haven. Lucky considered raising their children to be her most important calling and greatest achievement in life.
As a member and past president of the Junior League of Monmouth County, Lucky founded several programs that are still thriving to this day. She was recognized with the Outstanding Leadership Award in 1974 and served as chairman of the state council of the Junior Leagues of New Jersey and co-chaired the JLMC Lochmere Designer Showcase. The league’s library in their Rumson headquarters is named in her honor.
In addition, she served on the boards of several organizations, including the Two River Film Festival, as president of the Fair Haven PTA and the Rumson-Fair Haven Home and School Association and on the advisory council for the Monmouth Conservatory.
“Joan was one of those magnetic women, who could draw you in immediately with her beautifully famous smile and giggle,” said Pam McCoy, Atlantic Highlands. “She was always a favorite ‘older’ friend, who I spent a lot of time shadowing when I first joined the Junior League, as a ‘young married’ in 1978. She was a dynamic and creative mind, who dedicated so much to her beloved community.”
For some years, Lucky hosted and produced a half hour television show on Storer Cable, channel 8, entitled, “The Monmouth Journal with Joan Lucky,” that focused on special events, prominent visitors to the area, charities, and community events.
She interviewed gubernatorial candidates, child psychologist Lee Salk, ambassadors and Geraldo and CC Rivera, owners of The Two River Times at the time. That meeting inspired Rivera to ask Lucky to become the paper’s first People Page editor, a post she would hold for more than 15 years. During these years, Lucky, accompanied by her trusty camera – and sometimes reticent husband – attended almost every significant social event in Monmouth County, to spotlight their charitable efforts.
“Joan was a crowd favorite everywhere she went,” said Lynne Ward, who replaced Lucky at the Two River People section of the newspaper. “She was able to gracefully handle a crowd and had a very diplomatic way of dealing with people. She did her job with the utmost class and dignity.
“On top of her job, she did so many things for the community,” Ward said.
Lucky’s beat reflected the variety of events percolating in Monmouth County at the time, such as the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Centennial in Red Bank, the English Speaking Union Shakespeare Contest, The Monmouth University Scholarship Ball, the Birdhouse Art Festival for Habitat for Humanity, and the Fair Haven PTA.
“She was such a presence in the Two Rivers and a very gracious ambassador for The Two River Times,” said Eileen Moon, former TRT managing editor.
“Joan was a mentor and friend to everyone with whom she worked,” Moon said. “She knew how important it was to acknowledge those in the community who helped to make the Two Rivers a better place to live through their contributions to charities, schools, nonprofits serving those in need and all of the arts organizations in need of support. That was what the People Pages were all about, and Joan gave it her all.”
Marge Brickley, of Red Bank and Dallas, first met Lucky when they were freshmen at DePauw University in Indiana. The two went on to be roommates, sorority sisters and dear friends. “I was her maid of honor,” Brickley said. “And Joan was a proud Alpha Chi – as was her mother – and she started the Alpha Chi Omega Alum Club in The Two River Times area.
“Joan was dedicated to her family,” said Brickley. “And I know she was a dedicated teacher and she loved being involved with the charities. For Joan it was always about the organization she was trying to help promote for their benefit.”
Brickley remembers how Lucky had a positive outlook on life. “Whatever she was working on, it was always a positive exciting thing for Joan. She was not great at neatness – I know that from being her roommate,” she laughs. “But I’ll tell you, she always knew where everything was. She would find just what she was looking for in a pile of 10 papers.”
Although Joan Lucky’s calling was to share good news, through TV, newspaper, and photography, she was a woman many could trust. “She was the one person in the world I would trust with a secret,” said Brickley.
Lucky is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert Wendell Lucky, her son, David William Lucky and his wife, Kim, of Ridgewood, and her daughter, Karen Joan Lucky of Fair Haven. Lucky also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Megan, Shannon, Peter, Grace, and Lily, who adored their Grammy.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 30 at noon at the United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad St., Red Bank. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joan’s name to the Junior League of Monmouth County, 55 Center St., Rumson, NJ 07760.
