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Joan Thornton
Joan Thornton of Quiogue and New York City died on October 17. She was 94.
Born in 1930 in Toronto, Canada, she studied piano as a young child and gave her first orchestral concert with the Toronto Symphony at the age of 11. Her New York recital début was made at the age of 18. This launched her career for solo and chamber music concerts touring the United States, Canada, and Europe. Later in her career, she and her long-time friend and collaborator, Karl Ulrich Schnabel, formed the Piano Duo Schnabel to perform the repertoire for four-hand music at one piano.
She and her family spent summers and fall weekends on Quiogue in the same yellow house they bought in 1964. Her hobbies included gardening, swimming, reading, and going to yard sales every Saturday. In the city, she enjoyed opera and classical music concerts, browsing at auctions and thrift stores, and was a member of two book clubs.
She is survived by her three children, Christopher, Fenella, and Hugh; six grandchildren; and her sister Margot. She was predeceased by her husband John and her son Robert.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Staff Writer on Oct 22, 2024