Joan Ettinger, longtime Ridgefielder

Joan B. Ettinger of 66 Golf Lane, a Ridgefielder for more than 40 years, died Tuesday, April 30, at her home. She was 72 years old and the widow James P. Ettinger Jr.
Mrs. Ettinger was born on Jan. 29, 1930, one of six children of Richard and Hortense “Honey” Bates Bartlett. She grew up in Scotia, N.Y., and earned a degree as a registered nurse from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
At the age of 15, Mrs. Ettinger met her future husband, James Ettinger, and they were married when she was 20. Mr. Ettinger, who was president of Electric Regulator Company in Norwalk, died in 1996, a few months short of their 46th wedding anniversary.
“Everyone said they were soulmates,” recalled their daughter, Linda Wolski.
The Ettingers moved to Manor Road in 1958 and later lived on High Ridge, and finally on Golf Lane.
In the 1960s and 70s, Mrs. Ettinger volunteered with the Red Cross, serving as a “history nurse” at many Bloodmobiles.
She was active in the area Planned Parenthood chapter, and served as Ridgefield’s fund drive chairman in 1972 and 1973. She had also volunteered at the Family Planning Clinic at Danbury Hospital, and was a former recording secretary of Family and Children’s Aid Inc. of Danbury.
Mrs. Ettinger played the piano, favoring classical music, especially by Beethoven. She also enjoyed painting in oils.
“She was interested in beauty — visual beauty, aesthetics — and enjoyed decorating,” her daughter said.
Mrs. Ettinger’s survivors include a son: James P. Ettinger III and his wife Lena of Carlsbad, Calif.; two daughters: Ms. Wolski and her husband Michael of Pelham, N.Y., and Karen Warren and her husband Dick of Wilton; two brothers: Richard Bartlett of West Virginia, and Duane Bartlett of Worthington, Mass.; three sisters: Marilyn Valverde of Orangeburg, N.Y., Pat Myers of Georgia, and Donna Martin of Wilmington, N.C.; six grandchildren: Katie and Elyse Warren, Greg, Dana, Hillary, and Kevin Wolski, and one step-grandchild, Anya.
A son, Mark, died of cancer when he was four years old.
Services will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. at Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah Street.
Friends may call at the funeral home starting an hour before the service.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, 129 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510