Emily Whalen, 90

Emily Estes Whalen, an Amagansett resident who had spent the last two years in Quogue, died on Sept. 8 at Southampton Hospital of complications of pneumonia. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday.

Mrs. Whalen, who lived in New York City from the 1940s until 1997, when she moved here full time, was educated at St. Margaret’s School in Connecticut and Connecticut College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts. She began coming to East Hampton for weekends and summers in 1966.

She was born on Sept. 2, 1926, in Brooklyn, to the former Clementine Zartman and Thomas W. Estes, and grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y. She married Thomas Charles Whalen on Oct. 10, 1958; he died 10 years ago. Mrs. Whalen was a longtime volunteer at the Women’s City Club of New York, which promotes income equality, safe, affordable housing, accessible government, and quality health care for all New Yorkers.

An active member of the Devon Yacht Club until last year, Mrs. Whalen treasured her summers sailing and swimming in Gardiner’s Bay, said her daughter Anna Petrocelli. She swam in a pool until falling ill, five days before her death. She moved to Quogue to be closer to family, but Amagansett was always her favorite place, her daughter said.

Ms. Petrocelli said her mother, who attended the Columbia School of Architecture after graduating from college, enjoyed drawing all her life, and that her friends and family looked forward every year to the Christmas cards she illustrated and sent them. Her work was exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum.

In addition to Ms. Petrocelli, of New York City, she leaves another daughter, Emily Whalen DeMello of Forest Hills, and two grandchildren. Donations in her memory have been suggested to the Jenny and John Paulson Emergency Department, Southampton Hospital, 240 Meeting House Lane, Southampton 11968.