Virginia S. Stuart, development office staff from 1962-1974, died on January 16, 2016, in Chatham, New York.

(The following was published in The Columbia Paper on January 17, 2016):

CHATHAM—Virginia “Ginny” Stuart died January 5, 2016 at Camphill Ghent.

She was 94-years-old, born December 4, 1921 in Brooklyn to Francis and Florence (Presbrey) Stanforth.

She grew up in New York, attended Adelphi College in Garden City and received her BS in nursing from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. She also attended Julliard School in New York City, was an accomplished pianist and taught piano lessons to put herself through college. She was married to Robert Stuart from 1945 until 1974. She moved to Brunswick, Maine, in the 1950s with her husband and children. She was involved in a number of civic and church activities at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and served on the Brunswick School Board for many years. She worked at Bowdoin College in the Development Office from 1962 to 1974. She worked as a nurse in Maine Medical Center from 1974 to 1980 and as the volunteer coordinator in the Substance Abuse Unit at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine, from 1986 to 1992. Her next employment was as a school nurse at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from 1980 to 1986. She was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous from 1980 until her death.

She is predeceased by her brother, Robert Stanforth.

She is survived by: her three children, Nancy Reid of Randolph, Vermont, Gail Stuart of Chatham and Robert Stuart from Cumberland, Maine. She had eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two nephews.

Of the many places she lived, she loved the coast of Maine and considered herself a “Mainer” at heart. She was also deeply committed to her AA meetings and supporting others in this group.

Finally, Ms. Stuart loved classical music—and played piano for all to enjoy much of her life. To remember her, tune into, enjoy and support a local classical public radio station.