Joan Russell Zuhl, 90, passed away Feb. 14, 2016, in Las Cruces. Visitation will be on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016, at Getz Funeral Home from 9 to 10:30 a.m., with a memorial service to begin at 10:30 a.m. Arrangement by Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave Las Cruces, NM 88001. To sign the local online guest book visit www.GetzCares.com
From Zuhl's obituary: Zuhl was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Nov. 19, 1925, to Charles D. Russell and Barbara Barnet Russell. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and furthered her training in art at the Art Students League in New York City, studying under renown artists including Robert Beverly Hale and Marshall Glasier.
Joan was an avid tennis player as a young woman and an accomplished painter as an adult. A collection of her paintings are on permanent display in the Zuhl Library at New Mexico State University.
She participated in numerous art exhibitions, and won the Abstract Art Prize: Hunter Park Artists, 20th Annual Art Exhibit in New York.
Joan married Herbert A. Zuhl in 1968. She acquired Herbert's passion for collecting petrified wood, minerals and fossils. The couple established a Manhattan showroom for their treasures and sold to collectors and interior designers around the world.
In 1998, Joan and Herbert settled in Las Cruces. Here they established, in conjunction with NMSU, the Zuhl Museum - Home of the Zuhl Collection. They also contributed specimens for display at the "new library" and at Gardner Hall on the university campus.
On June 16, 2000, the university named the new library "The Zuhl Library" in recognition of the Zuhls' contribution to the university.
The university also awarded Joan and Herbert Zuhl honorary doctors of letters in 2011.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Barbara Russell, and her brother, David Russell. She is survived by her husband, Herbert A. Zuhl. She is also survived by cousins Anne Alison Barnet of Boston, Robert A. "Bobby" Barnet of Laurel, Maryland, Christopher D. Barnet of Greenbelt, Maryland, and Jeffrey M. Barnet of Las Cruces, Suzanne Barnet and Karen Barnet Woicekowski of Wilmington, Delaware, Barbara McRae of Chico, California, and Joan Mister of New York City.
Also survived by Esther Bartels of Dowagiac, Michigan, Sandy Zuhl of Vancouver, Washington,
and Robert (Margery) Zuhl of Battle Creek, Michigan; nieces and nephews, Karen, Sharon, Larry, Michael, Diane, Nancy, Fritz, Joanne, Mark, Norman and Dena; along with grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.
Joan's sparkle, enthusiasm and sense of humor will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Mesilla Valley Hospice-La Posada, Las
Cruces, NM.