Joanne Sturtevant Stinneford

WELD – It is with tremendous sadness that the family of Joanne “Jo” S. Stinneford, 91, of Weld, announces her passing on Aug. 28, 2025. Joanne died peacefully at Maine Medical Center in Portland, surrounded by her loving family.

Joanne was born in 1934 in Livermore Falls, the middle child of Reginald Houghton Sturtevant and Laura Wing Sturtevant. Joanne attended Livermore Falls schools, and after graduating from Livermore Falls High School in 1952, followed in her father’s footsteps, by attending Colby College in Waterville, Maine. It was at Colby that Joanne met Neil S. Stinneford of Dixfield, on a blind date to a Sadie Hawkins Day Dance. They married in 1955, the beginning of a beautiful partnership that lasted for 70 years. After graduating from Colby College in 1956, Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Jo embarked on a long teaching career spanning 33 years, including tenures at Fayette Central School, Livermore Falls High School and finishing at Mt. Blue High School. Her passion for biology merged with her love of the natural world and she established the Ecology Club at Mt. Blue, expanding her teaching beyond the confines of textbooks in a classroom. She involved club members with field trips and hands-on experiences, including bird banding. Her students participated in the Envirothon and took state honors in 1995, then traveled to Idaho for the National Competition. Jo was recognized for exemplary teaching throughout her long career. In 1974, she was named Outstanding Secondary Educator of America. She was recognized by the Maine Senate and House for being named Conservation Teacher of the Year in 1985. In 1986 she was selected by the National Association of Biology Teachers for the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. In 1988, Jo was invited to join the People-to-People International Delegation of U.S. Biology Teachers, she and Neil spent several weeks traveling with the group in China. Although the recipient of numerous awards, none meant more to Jo than the satisfaction she enjoyed by igniting a passion for science among students who may not have shown any prior interest. Countless students have reached out to her over the years, to share their successes and thank her for her inspiration, high standards and love of her field. Jo took enormous pleasure in knowing that she influenced the career choices of so many of her students.

Jo had many passions in her long and full life. One was travel, and over the years she and Neil visited every continent except Antarctica. Highlights included annual visits for over 30 years to the British Virgin Islands, as well as trips to China, South America, Africa, Australia, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. They also enjoyed numerous places in the United States, including Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana where they hiked in summer and cross-country skied in winter, followed by a relaxing dip in hot spring pools. The trips always focused on the natural beauty of the places they visited. Ever the scientist, Jo kept detailed journals of every trip, documenting animals, plants and cultures, as she observed them. Jo and Neil made many friends on their trips and continued to travel with them or host them at their camp on Webb Lake. In retirement, she continued to work on understanding and protecting the natural world. As a member of the Maine Audubon Society, Jo continued to participate in bird banding to help track migratory populations and she worked to reestablish the blue bird population in Weld.

Jo was a treasured member of the Weld community. She volunteered at the Weld Elementary School, worked at Take-It-Outside Day at the State Park, served on the planning board, was a member of the Webb Lake Association and was a long-time greeter at Franklin Memorial Hospital. Jo was a passionate, lifelong reader. She loved discussing and sharing good books with other readers and was a faithful member of the local book club in Weld. When her eyesight began to fail, she switched to audiobooks and managed the technology to continue to be able to have access to books. She loved following the ups and downs of the Patriots and the Red Sox and enjoyed many outdoor activities over the years such as skiing, snowmobiling, hiking and fishing. Jo will be fondly remembered for many things, including hosting countless joyful holiday celebrations at the family home in Weld. And no one will forget her amazing blueberry muffins, made only with wild Weld blueberries picked from bushes around the camp or from the field next to her home.

Jo was a Type 1 diabetic for nearly all of her adult life. In 2015, Jo and her daughter, Debra Vining were presented with the Joslin Diabetes Center Medal for living well with insulin-dependent diabetes for over 50 years. In her later years, Jo experienced loss of her eyesight due to macular degeneration and leukemia. She bore these challenges, and others, with characteristic quiet determination, great dignity and good humor, never complaining about anything.

Joanne’s greatest joy was her family, for whom she was an amazing role model, a fierce advocate, supporter and provider of sage advice. Jo is survived by her husband, Neil of Weld; daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Randy Vining of Weld; daughter and son-in-law, Krista and Peter Perry, of Rangeley; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Lynette Stinneford, of Wayne; son and daughter-in-law, Ryan Stinneford and Tricia Wheeler of Cumberland; brother and sister-in-law, Arnold and Leda Sturtevant of Farmington; sister and brother-in-law, Pamela and Ronald Moore of Gorham: sister-in-law, Carol Stinneford of Branson, Mo., eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Joanne’s entire family is grateful for the extraordinary care that Jo received on her final day with us from the Weld Fire Department, NorthStar Ambulance Service, LifeFlight of Maine and Maine Medical Center.

According to her wishes, Jo has been cremated and her remains reside with Neil at her home on Center Hill, awaiting their eventual reunion. A celebration of Joanne’s life, including an opportunity for friends and family to share favorite memories, is scheduled for 1:00 pm, May 16, 2026, at the Weld Town Hall on School Street.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Jo’s memory to any of the following causes: National Audubon Society (https://www.audubon.org/, click on “Membership & Giving, and “Donate” then select “In Memorial Gifts” or “In Honor Gifts”); the American Diabetes Association (https://diabetes.org/, click “Ways to Contribute”); or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (https://www.macular.org/want-to-help/donate)