Marcia Louise (Bickford) Stearns of Lawrenceville, New Jersey passed away on Saturday, June 17, after a long illness. She was 76.
Born and raised in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, she graduated from Brewster Academy and earned a BA in English from the University of New Hampshire.
Mrs. Stearns began her career teaching elementary school in Farmington, New Hampshire. Later she was elected Town Clerk of Hampstead, New Hampshire and served two terms until she moved to Newtown, Pennsylvania. She then returned to teaching at St. Ignatius School in Yardley where she taught the fourth grade for nearly two decades.
She was married for 35 years to the late Bruce Adams Stearns, a prominent harness racing leader who served as executive director of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Program in the State Department of Agriculture before his passing in 2001. Previously, Mr. Stearns was publicity director at harness racetracks, including Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania and Rockingham in New Hampshire. He was elected posthumously in 2002 to the Harness Racing Communicators Hall of Fame.
Survived by daughters Christine Stearns and Catherine (Stearns) Medich, son-in-law Benjamin, granddaughter Elizabeth Medich, sisters-in-law Elaine Bickford and Gail Bird (David), and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Frank Lovewell Bickford Jr. and Eleanor (Kenney) Bickford; husband Bruce Adams Stearns, and brother Kenneth Bickford.
Family visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, at the Orender Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road, Manasquan, NJ. Burial will be in New Hampshire.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the George School and sent to the Advancement Office, 1690 Newtown Langhorne Rd, PMB 4438, Newtown, PA 18940, or to the charity of your choice.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Marcia Stearns.