Juana Maria G. Flagg

Juana Maria G. Flagg died in the early morning of May 22, 2025, at the age of 102.  She was born on May 9, 1923, in Havana, Cuba, to Vicente and Maria Guruceta, and spent most of her childhood in Eibar, Spain.  The family moved to Managua, Nicaragua, when Eibar was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War.  Juanie was sent to the US to be educated, graduated from Connecticut College and went on to graduate studies in chemistry at Radcliffe before marrying Peter Flagg of Meriden, CT.

When the family was young, they moved to Middletown into a house built in 1743 on 20 acres.  Juanie made the property her life’s work and it is included in the Smithsonian Archive of Beautiful Gardens.  She was passionate about travel and there were many trips with family, by herself and with the Young Presidents Organization.  Juanie was also an excellent cook who loved to entertain.  She was the muse for her granddaughter, Ashley, who just opened The Laurel in West Hartford, CT.

After divorcing in her mid-fifties, Juanie shifted gears and earned her masters in Landscape Architecture at UConn, commuting to Storrs in her beloved Mercedes 280SL.  She started her own landscape design business and worked alongside many as they created their own beautiful gardens.  Juanie was an ardent Garden Club member and she continued to travel with other gardeners as well as with her grandchildren.

Juanie is survived by children Julie (Nancy), Kate (Elan), and Jed (Judy) and numerous loving grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was predeceased by an infant daughter, Elizabeth, and her beloved son, Peter (Cindy).

The family would like to thank the residents and incredible staff of Essex Meadows for filling her final years with friendship and care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

The Juana Maria G. Flagg Fund

The Middletown Garden Club

C/O Lynn A. Johnson, Treasurer

P.O. Box 24

Durham, CT 06422