Martha Jean Sterner

In the early hours of Saturday, January 16th, 2021, our beloved wife and mother, Martha Jean Sterner, departed this world in her sleep. Her spirit left us in the same way she lived her life, with dignity and grace.

Born in January 1948, Martha was originally from Flint, Michigan, the second child of six children, born to John and Ruth Sterner, both deceased. The Sterner Clan was a prominent family in Flint's rich civic and cultural traditions. From an early age, Martha was involved in many choral and theatrical groups, along with her many siblings. At age 18, she received her Actor's Equity card for her numerous performances with the Musical Tent - this was the beginning of a long and varied career on the stage. After attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and later graduating from Eastern Michigan University, she packed her bags and moved to New York City. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in print advertising, magazines, children's theater, television commercials, Off and On-Broadway productions, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and performed around Hawaii on the USS Constitution. In the early 1980s, she met her future husband, Scott, while attending West End Collegiate Church on New York City's Upper West Side. Martha was an active member of the church, singing in the choir, directing the Christmas pageants, leading the Youth Group, participating in the Peace Group and Bible study, and assisting in bi-weekly soup kitchens - we still don't know how she managed to do all of this!

After bidding adieu to her life on the stage, Martha worked in paper sales, designed office telephone systems, and became the Assistant Registrar at Manhattan School of Music. She then moved to The Juilliard School in 1998, where she became the Associate Registrar. She quickly moved over to work as the Executive Assistant to the President of Juilliard, where she stayed for over 10 years, before becoming a Development Associate until her retirement in May 2019. She absolutely adored her time at Juilliard. She attended as many performances and recitals in dance, drama, and music as she possibly could. She sang in the Juilliard Choral Union for years, and made many close friends throughout the school during her tenure. She shared her love of knitting by starting a knitting group among staff, faculty, and students before her retirement.

In 1987, she married Scott Holden, formerly of San Antonio and Austin, at West End Collegiate Church - where she, did indeed, sing at her own wedding. Together they have two daughters, Julia Marie, born in July 1990, and Joanna Ruth, born December 1994, while living in Manhattan's Morning Side Heights neighborhood. In 1999, the family relocated to Pelham, NY in Westchester County. During her 20 years of living in Pelham, Martha was a very active member of the community. She joined Huguenot Memorial Church, which quickly led to her energetic participation in both the church choir and hand bell choir. She served as an Elder, performed in the yearly Cabaret, went on numerous Mission trips, acted as a youth advisor, and directed the annual Christmas Pageant. Martha was also a Girl Scout leader, an AYSO youth soccer coach - they won the division that year - a member of the Pelham Larks, was actively involved in the PTA, helped design and make costumes for the Pelham Children's Theater, participated in multiple book groups, and taught knitting at the Pelham Public Library.

Sadly, Martha was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in April 2019. She dealt with her diagnosis and increasing limitations with remarkable good spirit and positivity. All of this came on while completing a long planned relocation to Austin, TX in April 2020 - in the midst of a global pandemic. She enjoyed her limited time in Austin reconnecting with close friends, and staying in touch with her friends and family over Zoom. Her time in Austin was made all the more pleasurable due to the many socially-distanced porch visits in the warm Texas weather.

Martha Jean was predeceased by her brothers, the Rev. John Sterner of Colon, MI and Dr. Mark Sterner of Cincinnati, OH. She is survived by her sister, Mary Dougherty and her husband Fred of South Sarasota, FL; her brother Rev. James Sterner and his partner Mike Brennan, of New York City; and her brother, David Sterner and his wife Viva of Alexandria, VA, along with numerous nieces and nephews, and their children.

She is also survived by her husband of 33 years - and partner of 37 years - Scott Holden, and daughters, Julia Marie Sterner-Holden and Joanna Ruth Sterner Holden, all of Austin, TX, who will miss her deeply.

Martha will be remembered for her joyous enthusiasm, her undeniable talent as a performer, her extraordinary voice, her good will to all, her unwavering strength, her generosity of spirit, her tolerance and acceptance of everyone, her unique beauty and sense of humor, and the kindness and care she showed to all who crossed her path. To know Martha Jean, was to love her. She was the light of our world and will be sorely missed. We love you Mama.

A Memorial Service for Martha will take place later this year.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to make donations in Martha's memory to the following organizations:

- Project ALS

- Huguenot Memorial Church

- Webster Congregational Christian Church of the United Church of Christ

**Please Note that donations to Webster Church need to be specifically designated to:

Webster Cong Christian UCC

4100 Webster Rd

Havre De Grace, MD 21078-1622

If you prefer to send cards, letters, photos, or stories of your personal relationship with Martha, please send them to:

3214 Windsor Road

Austin, TX 78703