Elizabeth Bradford Calef Conklin

Beloved wife and mother, Elizabeth Bradford Calef Conklin (February 27, 1939 - August 29, 2026) was the daughter of Marjorie Forsyth Calef and Frank Bradford Calef. Elizabeth was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, and its nearby suburbs. She earned a B.S.ED. from Boston University, and during her senior year there she met Jim Conklin, whom she married in 1962. Over the course of their years together they lived in Gainesville, Florida; Lexington, Massachusetts; and finally Silver Spring, Maryland.

Their children, David and Anne, were both born while Elizabeth and Jim lived in Florida. A devoted mother, Elizabeth took time to be a constant presence in their lives. This included promoting their interests in reading, swimming, gardening, cooking, and visiting museums, which Elizabeth also loved doing. This passion for her family continued with the birth of her grandson and later her granddaughter, both of whom she lovingly cared for while their parents were at work. Her grandchildren were born after the family moved to Maryland and lived nearby.

Elizabeth was passionate about civic participation and the environment. She joined the League of Women Voters (LWV) in Gainesville, serving as local president (1976-79) and state Voter Service Director (1979-81). In Lexington, she continued working with the Massachusetts LWV, as its Water Specialist (1982-88) and its Natural Resources Director (1985-87). In these positions, she helped draft state environmental legislation, lobby for the legislation’s passage, and serve as a public spokesperson for the LWV. She was also an environmental analyst, both within the LWV and in other volunteer and paid positions. In Massachusetts, she was the Research Director (1987-88) for a state Legislative Commission on Indoor Air Pollution. In Maryland, Elizabeth was a Policy Analyst for the Northeast-Midwest Institute (1989-91), proposing and lobbying for legislation to protect the Great Lakes. In later years she volunteered with the local library and was president of her neighborhood association for two terms.

Elizabeth was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018. While the disease increasingly affected her balance and speech, she remained a vital member of the family, contributing to discussions, joining in games and enjoying visits with family and friends for as long as she was able.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband Jim, children David and Anne, son-in-law Carlos Cruz, grandchildren Brian and Elena Cruz, and siblings Robert Calef and Frances Gustaveson.

A memorial service will be held for Elizabeth Conklin on Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 PM EDT in the sanctuary of the Silver Spring United Methodist Church, 8900 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. If you are unable to attend the service in person, a link to view it online will be available at www.CCCsilverspring.org at the time of the service. A reception will follow the service.