Rebecca Stickney

86, long time administrator at Bennington College, died Thursday evening August 21, 2008 at Crescent Manor Care Centers in Bennington following a brief illness. Born in Belmont, on November 9, 1921, the daughter of Henry Harding and Harriet Lounsbery Stickney, she attended the Brimmer School in Boston and Bennington College in Bennington, VT from which she graduated in 1943. Following her graduation from college, she worked at the Harvard Medical School in a U.S. government highly classified germ warfare project. She returned to Bennington in 1948 at the invitation of President Frederick Burkhardt, to establish an alumnae office. With the exception of several brief leaves, Ms. Stickney continued to work at the College, wearing, as she often put it, several different hats. She served two stints as Director of Admissions for a total of fifteen years, directed the Public Relations and Development Office, and established the Student Services Office in 1970. She became Assistant to the President in 1975, and at the request of Bennington's current President, Dr. Elizabeth Coleman, deferred her retirement to work part-time in the President's Office. She continued in that post until her death. In 1980 she was invited to become a member of the Board of Trustees and subsequently became its corporate secretary, a post she held for many years. Ms. Stickney was not only deeply committed to the well-being of those who studied, taught and worked at the college but also to its trees and grounds. She was often to be found laboring with the grounds crewman, planting trees, pruning shrubs, and keeping track of and maintaining the 15 bluebird houses she placed around and about the colleges fields and meadows. She was an avid bird watcher and every morning, rain or snow or shine, she left her campus house, with dog and binoculars, for the 2 mile walk to check on that outside world she loved. Ms. Stickney was the surviving child of 6. She leaves 2 nieces, a nephew, several great and great-great-nieces and nephews. At Ms. Stickney's request there will be no funeral. Following cremation Ms. Stickney's ashes will be buried in the family lot in Belmont. To send a personal e-mail condolences please visit sheafuneralhomes .com. The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, 213 West Main St, BENNINGTON, VT.