Joan Lipton, 87, of Wall, passed away Dec. 10, 2025. Born Feb. 19, 1938, in Queens, New York, she was the daughter of Roslyn and Theodore Weissman.
She was a graduate of Adelphi University and earned advanced degrees in education and Spanish, and a doctorate in art history from The City University of New York.
Joan began her teaching career at Jamaica High School in Queens, where she met her future husband, fellow teacher Gerald Lipton. They were happily married for 61 years.
After they moved to Fair Haven, she taught Spanish and served as World Languages Department chair at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. Joan also led numerous student trips to Spain. She will be fondly remembered as an inspiration and mentor to her students.
It was during these years that she began a second career as an art history lecturer.
Joan retired from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in the early 1990s after a long and proud career.
She and her husband subsequently moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, where she continued to present her art history lectures. In early 2025, Joan moved back to New Jersey, where she spent several happy months in Wall Township.
Joan loved travel, music, speaking Spanish and reading.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, Gerald; her parents; and her sister, Barbara Wexler.
She leaves her beloved daughter, Julie Lipton; her treasured granddaughter, Jeannie Rose Lipton; her sister, Gail Gregory; her brother-in-law, Ira Lipton, and his wife, Lorraine; as well as nieces, nephews and many friends.
Final arrangements were private, under the direction of The Bloomfield Cooper Funeral Home in Ocean.
Memorial donations to the American Cancer Society or a charitable organization of one’s choice would be appreciated.
The article originally appeared in the December 18 – 24, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
