Jo Ann Stabb
Jan. 11, 1942-Feb. 13, 2022
Walnut Creek, California

Born and raised in Palo Alto, CA, Jo Ann Crump Stabb went to Occidental College then on to the University of California, Los Angeles to study art and design. In the summers she took auxiliary classes at Parson’s School of Design and the Tobé-Coburn School for Fashion Careers in NY. Upon completing two internships at Macy’s and Vogue Magazine, she returned to UCLA for a Master of Arts in Design with a focus on textiles and fashion.

After graduating in 1967, Jo Ann was recruited by the University of California, Davis to start the textile and fashion curriculum in the Department of Design. During her 35+ years of teaching there, Jo Ann always championed the value of hands-on study of actual textiles and artifacts. This led to her role as the first curator of the UC Davis Design Collection. In 2017, it was later renamed the Jo Ann C. Stabb Design Collection in her honor.

Jo Ann retired from UCD in 2002, but continued to create, guest lecture, curate exhibitions, write and consult in the field. She actively served on the Board of Directors for the Costume Society of America, as well as the Textile Arts Council of the de Young Museum. Her creative work focused on one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces that have been exhibited in the U.S. and internationally.

Jo Ann had a great sense of humor, loved a cold Coca-Cola and was the best archivist and story teller. She delighted in celebrating with friends and family, enjoyed her creative hobbies, visiting museums, collecting and travel. She was also an incredible family historian and proud of her Norwegian heritage.

Jo Ann is survived by her brother Ray Crump of Sunnyvale, CA; two sons Charlie and Peter Stabb, their wives and five grandchildren of Walnut Creek, CA.

Jo Ann’s lifelong desire to expand and share her wealth of knowledge was insatiable to the end. Her ability to see art in the mundane, her love of family and incredible generosity will be dearly missed.

Tags: teacher/educator