Julia Bergmark Lester

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to David and Janet Bergmark, Julia was the eldest of the Bergmark children. She spent her early childhood in Alexandria, Virginia, and Brooklyn Heights, New York, before moving with her family to Istanbul, Turkey, in 1950. Her father's work with the Near East Board of Foreign Missions led the family to live and travel across the Middle East and Europe, instilling a lifelong love of learning, language, and global culture.

She attended Robert College Community School in Istanbul, Newton High School in Newton, MA, and graduated from Vassar College, her mother’s alma mater. In 1963, she married Alan Maury Lester, with whom she shared a devoted partnership until his passing in 1995. Together they lived in Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Iran, and Washington, D.C. while Alan served in the U.S. Foreign Service.

While moving between continents, Julia and Alan raised three children—Alan B., Christopher, and Sarah. Julia brought her energy and adaptability to every new home. Once back in the states, the family settled in Washington, DC, then later moved to Parker, Colorado, to follow a dream of being out West. There, she became deeply involved in community life, serving on the Library Board, the League of Women Voters, and working in real estate.

Following her husband, Alan’s death, Julia embraced mountain living by moving to Breckenridge, Colorado, where she enjoyed being surrounded by beauty and starting a new profession as a tour guide. In 2016, she moved back to DC to be closer to family and old friends. She spent summers at her family cottage in North Truro, Massachusetts, originally built by her grandmother in 1908—a place she treasured deeply.

Julia was known for her intelligence, curiosity, adventurous spirit, and zest for life, not to mention a passion for almost any card or board game. She is survived by her sister Pamela Fichtner, her brother David Bergmark, her three children, Alan, Chris, and Sarah, her grandchildren Gracie, Aidan, Jasper, Jonah, William, Lila, and Alice, her many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews, and countless friends who she loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Julia’s memory to consider a donation to WETA—an organization she valued deeply for its commitment to the arts and public media—or to a cause of your choice that reflects her lifelong passion for social causes.