Christie Solter Stephenson

Christie Solter Stephenson, 89, of Green Ridge Village in Newville, died Saturday, June 16, 2007.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Robert C. "Steve" Stephenson, Ph.D.

A Baltimore, Md., native, her parents were the late Judge George A. and Christie Dulaney Solter.

She was a graduate of Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, and earned a bachelor's degree in geology at Bryn Mawr College, remaining after graduation as a grad student and lab assistant. She also taught science at Holton-Arms School in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Stephenson met her husband while they were geology graduate students at Johns Hopkins University. Marrying in 1942, they spent several years in out-of-the-ordinary locations, including an Adirondack mining camp and a sheepherder's cabin in Vernal, Utah, while Dr. Stephenson did geology field work. They later lived in locations including Harrisburg; McLean, Va.; and Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Stephenson devoted herself to raising the couple's three children.

She and her husband, then director of the American Geological Institute, were among the organizers of the 1960 International Geophysical Year.

Active in a variety of civic groups and for many years an Episcopal Church volunteer, she was a member of the Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville, at the time of her death.

Mrs. Stephenson was also an avid outdoorswoman and bird watcher. In retirement the couple traveled to locations including Alaska, Belize, and the Galapagos, adding to their "life lists," eventually numbering in the thousands, of birds they observed. After a 1998 stroke, she still relished her annual summer trip to Mt. Desert Island, Maine, enjoying watching sea birds fly above the crashing waves.

She is survived by her brother, Judge George D. Solter of Baltimore, Md.; three children, Charles K. Stephenson of Seal Harbor, Maine, Christie D. Stephenson of New York City, N.Y., and W. David Stephenson II of Medfield, Mass.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 21 at the Green Ridge Village Garden Court.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Friends of Acadia (friendsofacadia.org) or to the National Audubon Society.