Joan C. Mulligan
November 1, 1931 ~ February 23, 2023
Resided in:
Yarmouth, Maine
Yarmouth- Joan C. Mulligan, 91, formerly of Scarborough, died peacefully on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at her home.
Joan was born on November 1, 19341 in Greenwich, Village, NY in the heart of Manhattan, the daughter of the late Joseph and Jane (Carolan) Nevins. After her mother’s death in 1935, she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Margaret and Michael Netter, with her father always close and involved. She attended the Ursuline School in New Rochelle and graduated from the college of Mount Saint Vincent with a B.A. in Classics. In later years she received an M.A. in Psychology from New York University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Fordham University.
Joan married Robert E. Mulligan, the love of her life, in 1969 and they became parents with the birth of their daughter Elissa Ann. The family lived in Katonah, New York until 1984 when they moved full time to Vermont.
After teaching in Manhattan, the Bronx and Nassau, Bahamas, Joan took a position as a faculty member in psychology at Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT. In subsequent years, she filled many faculty and administrative positions at Green Mountain College and at nearby Castleton State College. Joan always felt privileged to teach and be associated with young people and with the talented and generous colleagues she encountered.
Joan left college work in 2010 and filled her days with writing, studying, swimming, time with family and friends and special time with her husband, Robert, daughter, Elissa and granddaughter, Rebecca Mae Hooker.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, Robert Mulligan. She is survived by her cherished daughter, Elissa Mulligan and her husband, John Claudio of South Portland; dearly beloved granddaughters, Rebecca Mae Hooker and Jessica Claudio both of South Portland; great granddaughter, Adelaide R.M. Hooker of South Portland; and other loving family and friends.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, ME. To view Joan’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
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God Bless, Joan. May flights of Angels wing thee to thine rest.
Joan was one of my first Professors at my Alma Mater, Green Mountain College. She was fantastic as a teacher and straightforward and blunt when that was required, but quick to praise and compliment when she saw potential that needed nudging. Thank you, Joan, for the simple act of reminding a dreamer that when you’re imagining how you would do something, “if money wasn’t an issue how would you do it? ” Simply, you’re imagining a scenario, why does it have to be limited in certain ways? You’re imagining it, why limit it? If you’re going to dream, dream BIG.
What blessing Joan was to the world. Her gentle sincerity and love was evident whenever we met, and I suspect that was how she was with everyone! I wish we could have spent more time together.
She was my professor to my psychology classes at Green Mountain College (1990-1994)
Her love of all of us “college kids” and she introduced me to Victorian-era American psychologist William James.
Wonderful, kind, uplifting and inspiring. Thank you so much Dr. Mulligan
Among other things, Joan introduced me to Billy Collins’s poetry:
“…In the evening, I closed my eyes
by the water’s edge and I pretended
this is what it will look like
or will not look like,
this is where my friends keep going,
a “place” only in quotation marks,
where instead of oxygen, there is silence
unbroken by the bark of a fox in winter
or the whine of an unattended kettle…” Billy Collins
Joan you were such a dear-wonderful friend and former boss of mine. You were such an inspiration in my life. You always gave me the best advice when I needed it and a hug whenever I saw you. I will miss you dearly.
My prayers are with you and your family
I’ve just realized my friend Joan has passed away..it had been a while since I last saw her. We went out for lunch and of course laughed a lot and had a great time. Joan was a special person. She had a way of being very wise yet childlike and joyful! We became fast friends when I started landscaping for her and Bob. Through the years she shared many insights on life and family with me, proving a very valuable woman in my life. I am sad to think I will never see her again, but comforted knowing the last time I saw her she was happy and we had such a nice time..love you Joan! Till we meet again ,Svanna