Carol McKenney

In loving memory of Carol A. (Bickford) McKenney, 70, of Rochester N.H., who passed away on July 11, 2025, with her husband and son by her side at Frisbie Hospital, after battling a long illness.

Carol was born on February 3,1955 in Rochester N.H. to Ann M. (Viel) Bickford, and George C. Bickford.

She graduated from Somersworth High School with the class of 1973, and from the University of New Hampshire in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in physical education.

Carol began her teaching career in Bedford N.H. as an intern but eagerly accepted a job in her hometown at Somersworth Middle School the following year, 1978. She had come home, and had found her professional home, remaining in this position until retirement in 2022. Forty-two years teaching in the same middle school is a remarkable achievement, and testimony to her love of the job, and her dedication to her students and hometown.

She was an accomplished lifelong athlete. During high school she excelled in both softball and basketball, serving as co-captain in her junior and senior years. She was willing to try new things, and went at them with great determination, as demonstrated by her taking first place at the New Hampshire High School Girls Track Championships in the javelin event when she was a senior. This was the first year that this event was offered to girls. Carol had a strong throwing arm as a softball third baseman, and one of her coaches suggested she give this new event a try. She mastered the event with a little input from her coach, and endless hours of practice. Her victory was especially notable as she was quite petite, unlike many athletes in this event.

Despite her short stature, Carol made the girls' basketball team in college; she could really move the ball, and she had a never give up attitude, she was a positive spark on the team. If you lost one, try harder; if you won one, try harder anyway.

Carol's interest in outdoor activities and hiking led her to seek advanced training. She completed a course with the National Outdoor Leadership School which took her to the Wind River Range in Wyoming.

As a teacher, Carol shared her love of the mountains with her students. She and a colleague established and led a hiking club, which regularly took students on hiking trips. These trips always culminated into a weekend backpacking adventure at the end of the season. When necessary, she organized fundraisers to ensure every student could have the opportunity to participate and experience the wild places of New Hampshire.

Her dedication to her Somersworth students was also evident as she coached a variety of sports for many years at both the middle and high school levels.

Carol's influence also reached Saint Elizabeth Seton School, where she volunteered to revive and coach their track program, and then led them to win the state championship their first year.

As a member of the Rochester Runners, Carol completed too many road races to list. Among them the Mt. Washington Auto Road Race (twice). She ran marathons, most notably the Boston Marathon (twice) and the Peace Marathon. Her love of the mountains was manifested by hiking New Hampshire's 4000 footers in both summer and winter, often accompanied by her brother and father.

Competing in triathlons revealed Carol's athleticism and dedication to training; she won the overall first place in the 1989 Granite Man Triathlon. Her prior training as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor, was valuable to her when competing in triathlons. Training for the bicycle leg of the triathlons led Carol to compete in the bicycle race to the summit of Mt. Washington.

Summer vacations provided opportunities for extensive bicycle touring, and that is how Carol experienced many places, such as Alaska, the Rockies, Canada, England, and Nova Scotia.

She was most proud of bicycling across the country from the Pacific Ocean in Oregon to the Atlantic Ocean in Rye on a tandem bicycle to celebrate her honeymoon.

While Carol was a very active and accomplished athlete throughout her life, she was also an active advocate for women's sports and their expansion. She officiated both basketball and field hockey games at the high school level, and basketball through division one college. She was involved in an effort to recruit female officials. She and several other female officials promoted an organization whose purpose was to help graduating women athletes have the support needed to start a career officiating women's sports.

Carol was inducted into the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame on November 15, 2015 "in recognition of your outstanding contributions to high school athletics in New Hampshire." For more than thirty years Carol and her family vacationed at Acadia National Park where they enjoyed camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, and the beauty of the great outdoors.

Carol was preceded in death by her father George, and her mother Ann. She is survived by her husband Clayton, their son Christopher, her brother John and his wife Patricia, and by her beloved black lab Arlo.

Family, friends, and colleagues may visit on July 19th from 2 – 4 pm, at the Grondin Funeral Home, 177 N. Main St., Rochester New Hampshire, 03867.A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday July 26th at St. Mary Church, 71 Lowell St., Rochester, N.H. 03867.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Pope Memorial Human Society Cocheco Valley, 221 County Farm Rd, Dover, NH 03820. https://popememorialcvhs.org/