JoAnn Farrell Blumsack of Portsmouth Rhode Island died on September 19, 2011 at Newport Hospital in Newport Rhode Island. She was surrounded by a dearly loved husband, Hilliard Huggins Jr. sister Linda Farrell, sons Joel, Paul and Michael Blumsack, grand children, nieces Cristen Farrell and Amber Joy Landeck, cousin Marilyn Blumsack, daughter in law Paula Blumsack and friend Steve Lipman. She was the daughter of Francis Andersen and Marion Smith Farrell of Greenfield Mass. JoAnn was born into a political family. Congressman Barney Frank said that JoAnn was responsible for winning his first congressional campaign. As an ADA board member she was the principal lobbyist for the state rent control law. She served as administrative aid on the Massachusetts General Court for Rep. John Businger and in the public affairs office of Sec. of State Michael Connolly where she coordinated black history month activities and wrote papers on global warming. She served in Brookline town meeting advisory committee and library board and coordinated several local campaigns. As Chairwoman of the Brookline Council for the Arts she was the project manager for the annual six-week-environmental sculpture exhibition, ART FOR LARZ ANDERSON at Larz Anderson park.For the past twelve years she has been a full time guide at the Preservation Society of Newport County. A funeral mass will be held 11 am, Saturday September 24th at All Saints Episcopal Church.1773 Beacon Street Brookline Mass., where friends can come to pray before the Rose window.In her memory JoAnn urges time and talent to be given to local communities fostering the arts and preserving the environment.