ROCKLAND – William L. Sternberg, 73, died Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, surrounded by his family at his home, after a long illness, on the eve of his 74th birthday. Born Oct. 31, 1935, in Machias, he was the youngest of five children to 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, Machias. He later earned a master’s degree in administration from the University of Maine, Orono, where he also earned a certificate in advanced studies. On Aug. 24, 1957, he married W. Jane Lounsbury in Orono. The couple made their first home in Deer Isle, where Bill served two years as a teaching-principal at Deer Isle 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 SAD 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 10 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, Rockland. Bill loved following local sports and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He 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 throughout the years. Bill was a longtime, 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 Rockland Kiwanis Club and a longtime basketball official with the Maine State Principals Association. In addition his wife of 52 years, Jane of Rockland, Bill is survived by three sons, David B. Sternberg and his wife, Brenda, of Thomaston, Daniel K. Sternberg and his wife, Emily, of Milford, Mich., and Timothy M. Sternberg of Owls Head; four daughters, Sue E. Guptill and her husband, Walter, of Nobleboro, Mary L. Bassick and her husband, Paul, of Forestdale, Mass., Beth “BJ” Foster and her husband, Scott, of Gambrills, Md., and Ann M. Davis and her companion, Michael Estabrook, of Waldoboro; one brother, John E. Sternberg of Machias; 15 grandchildren, John, Amy, Stacey, Jessica, Michael, Rebecca, Amanda, Benjamin, Katie, Eliza, Andrew, Emily, James, Billy and Danny; three great-grandchildren, Joseph, Mya and Jack; as well as several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland, with the Rev. Mark Reinhardt officiating. Interment will be afterward at Coughlin Memorial Cemetery, Rankin Street, 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 online condolences, please visit obituaries at www.bchfh.com.
WILLIAM L. STERNBERG
