Sally Birnie Stoops

Sally was the essence of thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, energy and humbleness. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, great-aunt, cousin and overall friend to everyone.

Sally’s love for her family and friends, including the four-legged ones, was rivaled only by her passion for the outdoors. An avid hiker, cross-country skier, snowshoer, woodstacker, snowblower, shoveler, occasional sailor and all-around athlete (she had a heck of an arm), Sally’s penchant for activity was well known and admired. Few people can say - and she wouldn’t tell you - that they climbed all of New England’s 4,000+-foot mountains. Additionally, she hiked the peaks in the New Hampshire Whites at least five times. Sally would never toot her own horn about her accomplishments, but any time a family member or friend completed the 4,000 footers she would make a batch of cookies, ice the name of each peak on all 48 of them and present the sweet “Congratulations” in celebration of the hiker’s accomplishment. It’s rumored that some people completed the goal just to get the cookies. Sally hiked Mount Washington, solo, for her last time when she was 83.

Sally’s appreciation for nature fueled her support of and involvement in several local and national organizations dedicated to the protection and conservation of treasured places. She was a member of the AMC, the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, the Trout Pond Conservation Project and other non-profits. She took courses on wildflower and tree identification and shared her knowledge with anyone interested. She passed on her “call to the mountains” to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who are all still trying to follow in her footsteps.

Although Sally much preferred to be outside on some trail or working in the yard, she was also a wonderful cook. She appreciated classical music, attending the symphony and opera whenever she could. Sally was also known for her meticulous record-keeping and fastidiously organized home. As a hard-core sports fan, she was the de-facto football pool manager for many years.

Perhaps one of the best things Sally will be remembered for was her card sending. Not an occasion would pass without someone (everyone?) receiving a card or a postcard commemorating their event. This included birthday cards, sent every year, to hundreds of people. Even pets would get mail for anything important. The cards were unique, funny and selected perfectly for the recipient.

Sally had many nicknames but her favorite, by far, was “Badass Nanno,” which she was known as to most of her grandchildren’s friends. This name of honor (which at first she thought was less than honorable) was earned, among other things, from her near 100% attendance at all soccer games, lacrosse matches and, especially, Nordic ski races - no matter how far away - where she would trudge through the snow in all winter conditions to enthusiastically cheer on not only her grandchildren, but all of the skiers on the course.

Given her love of people, Sally enjoyed parties, both hosting and attending them. From elaborate tailgate gatherings at football games, to dinner parties in their home, to the epic Cidering event in Freedom every fall, Sally always warmly welcomed family and friends to any venue.

Sally was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on August 21, 1933, the oldest of the four children of Walter H. Birnie and Mary K. Birnie. She grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts and summered in Freedom, New Hampshire, her favorite place and where she and Bill eventually made their permanent residence.

After graduating from the Winsor School in 1951, Sally entered Mount Holyoke College, where she spent two years majoring in math. In the summer of 1953, Sally and her cousin embarked on an adventure to Europe that included visiting Scandinavia and attending the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London. She returned to Boston and enrolled in the Katharine Gibbs School, where she graduated in 1955.

In April 1955, Sally met Bill Stoops on a blind date in Cambridge. The matchmaking was “destiny” because a month later they were engaged, then married in August. They were together happily for the next 67 years, until Bill passed away at the age of 98. Many attribute Bill’s longevity to Sally’s great care and heroic (attempts at) policing his sweet tooth.

Sally and Bill settled in Needham, Massachusetts in 1956. During the years that Sally remained at home to raise their three children, Billy, Peter and Caroline, she volunteered extensively and held several part-time jobs. When her children were older, Sally obtained her Real Estate License and began a long, successful career with Needham Realty.

Sally and Bill moved to Harpswell, Maine in 1982. They split their time between their house on Pinkham Point and the home in Freedom. In 2000, they moved full-time to Freedom.

Freedom was indeed Sally’s true home and where she most loved to spend her time. She and Bill were beloved community members. Sally volunteered in the Freedom Village Store and helped every year with Freedom Old Home Week. But perhaps the biggest contribution Sally made to Freedom and the surrounding area was opening up the Bucknell Trail to all on Prospect Mountain, the small peak behind her and Bill’s home. Sally knew every rock and root on the Bucknell Trail because she cleared it, and religiously hiked it every day in every season, unless she was injured or away. She and Bill also spearheaded the group effort to establish and build the Scarboro Ridge Trail.

Sally was predeceased by her husband, William A. Stoops, in 2022, as well as her three siblings, Hart B. Holan, Richard W. Birnie and Arthur K. “Pete” Birnie in 1991, 2016 and 2020, respectively. Sally leaves her children: William (Bill) and his wife Choi Myoung-Il of Bangkok, Thailand; Peter and his wife Kate Wilkinson of Falmouth, Maine; Caroline and her husband Gregg Marston of Freedom, New Hampshire. She also leaves her three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Sarah Marston Crocker, her husband Tom Crocker and their two sons, Luca and Alden of Louisville, Colorado; Chase Marston, his wife Julie Denison Marston and their two sons, Sam and Whitten of Lake Bluff, Illinois; John (Jake) Marston and his wife Natalie Sill Marston of Portland, Maine. Sally also leaves numerous other family members across the country. Her generous and vibrant spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her, but wonderful memories remain.

Sally’s family would like to thank all of the exceptional staff at the Heron House for their genuine compassion and devoted care during her time there, as well as the kind and skilled staff and volunteers at Affinity Hospice Care of Maine for their many supportive and comforting services. And special appreciation is extended to Sally’s dedicated “Coach” (and friend) for the past few years.

A private farewell for Sally will be held with her family in the coming days. A celebration of her life will be held at a future date. Donations in Sally’s memory may be made to the Freedom Village Store, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, or the Appalachian Mountain Club. Or, just go out and hike a mountain and think of Sally.