August 13th, 2019 – Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter today announced that former Islip Town Clerk Hon. Joan Johnson died last weekend. She was 86.

“Joan was the first African-American to hold public office in the Town of Islip’s history,” said Supervisor Carpenter. “She was a role model and a mentor to so many. She was dedicated to her work in the Town, and was committed to the community and to serving its residents,” added the Supervisor. Joan was a longtime public servant, holding the Town Clerk’s position from 1991 until her retirement in 2007.

Joan served on the Central Islip Board of Education, and became Vice-President during her second term. She was involved with the Central Islip-based Long Island Head Start Program for 50 years, beginning in 1970 as a social worker and later, as its director.

She worked as an Adjunct Professor at the New York Institute of Technology. She received the Phi Delta Kappa Friend of Education Award and an Honorary Doctor of Civil Laws degree from Dowling College in New York. In 1995, she won the Ms. Senior New York State title, and finished as first runner-up in the Ms. Senior America Pageant. She also ran for Congress, unsuccessfully, in 2000.

Devoted to her family, Joan is survived by her husband Cleveland Johnson, Jr. and four children. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Joan's name to Long Island Head Start.