Once Musical Child Prodigy Joanne Slater of Cranston Dies at 88

Once Musical Child Prodigy Joanne Slater of Cranston Dies at 88

Joanne Slater, 88, of Cranston, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at HopeHealth Hospice RI. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late William and Rosemary (Gellis) Slater. She is survived by her loving daughter Jennifer Levi and was predeceased by her beloved son David Slater Levi. She was an exceptional role model and loving mother to her children.

 

A true New Yorker, born in Brooklyn then graduating to the East Side. She was a child prodigy of music, performing an original composition at Carnegie Hall at the young age of 12.

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She attended Julliard and graduated high school at age 16. She then graduated from Barnard College at age 20. There, she was a founder of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Joanne was a member of ASCAP and published records with artists Georgia Gibbs and David Troy Somerville.

 

Joanne was also a New York-based developer of fine giftware and commemoratives. She designed and created the Waterford Butterfly. She was the co-owner of Kruckemeyer & Cohn until 1988 as one of the major sources of elite artists. Their motto was “If you can’t visit our galleries, we will bring our galleries to you.” She created a Millenium Piece called the “Time Tapestry” that hangs in the Library of Congress. Joanne was currently working on a children's book about Freddy the Frog and Freddy the Human.

 

She will be missed by everyone who had the privilege to meet her. There will be a private celebration of her life at a later date.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School, 667 Waterman Ave., East Providence, RI 02914.