William L. Sternberg, 73, of Rockland, died surrounded by his family, following a long illness at his home, Oct. 30, on the eve of his 74th birthday.
Born in Machias, Oct. 31, 1935, he was the youngest of five children of John and Augusta A. Hatt Sternberg. Educated in local schools, he was a 1952 graduate of Machias High School, and a 1956 graduate of Washington State Teachers College in Machias. He later earned a Masters Degree in Administration from the University of Maine at Orono, where he also earned a Certificate in Advanced Studies.
He married W. Jane Lounsbury in Orono on Aug. 24, 1957. The couple made their first home at Deer Isle, where Bill served two years as a teaching-principal at Deer Isles Elementary School. For the next three years, he served in that same capacity at Stonington Elementary School.
In 1960 Bill moved to Rockland, where he served as a teaching-principal at McLain School for two years, before moving to South School, where he served as principal until 1976. At that time, he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of School Administrative District No. 5, retiring in 1988 from the position of Superintendent of SAD 5. During earlier years, he also served as Administrator of Performance Contracting for the school district.
After his retirement, Bill served ten years as State Agent Superintendent at Matinicus Island Plantation. He also served three years as a member of the SAD 5 School Board, and worked at Jesse’s Market in Rockland.
Bill loved following local sports, was an avid Boston Red Sox fan, loved taking long rides, spending time with family and friends and square dancing. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and took trips cross country, to Italy, Canada and Campobello. He loved pets, and kept many of them over the years.
Bill was a long time active communicant of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, where he served on the Parish Council; and, for seven years, served as coordinator of St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen.
He was a past member of the Rockland Kiwanis Club and a long time basketball official with the Maine State Principals Association.
Besides his wife of 52 years, Jane of Rockland, Bill is survived by his sons, David B. Sternberg and wife Brenda of Thomaston, Daniel K. Sternberg and wife Emily of Milford, Mich., and Timothy M. Sternberg of Owls Head; daughters, Sue E. Guptill and husband Walter of Nobleboro, Mary L. Bassick and husband Paul of Forestdale, Mass., Beth “BJ” Foster and husband Scott of Gambrills, Md., and Ann M. Davis and companion Michael Estabrook of Waldoboro; brother, John E. Sternberg of Machias; grandchildren, John, Amy, Stacey, Jessica, Michael, Rebecca, Amanda, Benjamin, Katie, Eliza, Andrew, Emily, James, Billy, Danny; great-grandchildren, Joseph, Mya and Jack; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours 6-8 p.m., Tues., Nov. 3 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. Mass of Christian burial 2 p.m., Wed., Nov. 4 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland. The Rev. Mark Reinhardt will officiate. Interment will follow in Coughlin Memorial Cemetery, Rankin St., Rockland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen, 150 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841, or Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.
To leave on-line condolences, please visit obituaries at www.bchfh.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Inc., Rockland.