Joan Black Bakos, a former East Hampton resident who loved gourmet cooking and had a long career with a restaurant publication, died of heart failure on Aug. 26 after a brief illness. She was 88 years old.
Ms. Bakos worked for Restaurant Business magazine from 1965 to 1985, working her way up to editor in chief and vice president. She retired in 1985 and moved to East Hampton, where she lived until 2017. She was an active supporter of the town Democratic committee.
She was born in Queens on Aug. 16, 1931, to Thomas John Black and the former Harriet Campbell, and grew up in College Point. More recently she lived in Naples, Fla., and was at North Collier Hospital in Naples when she died.
Joan Black married Nicholas Bakos in November 1963. He died in 1989. Ms. Bakos was a lifelong lover of the arts, including ballet and baymen’s art. She spoke French and traveled to Paris many times.
“We didn’t go to a barbecue when we visited her. We went to a museum,” said one of her nephews, Daniel Martin. “She exposed us to a lot of culture.”
She was also a gourmet cook, and would make desserts such as poached pears, Mr. Martin said. For work, she would set up photo shoots and travel across the country to try food products in test kitchens.
Her sister, Margaret V. Martin, died before her. She leaves six nieces and nephews, seven grand-nieces and nephews, and many friends in East Hampton.
Her ashes will be dispersed in a private ceremony.