Calista Lincoln Harder, 82
SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. -- Calista Lincoln Harder, 82, died on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, N.Y., after a valiant battle with cancer. Four of her five children were at her side.
Cal was born on Jan. 11, 1930, in New York City. She was the daughter of Frederic W. Lincoln and Isabel R. Lincoln. Cal attended Chapin and Shipley Schools, and in 1947, Cal graduated from Westover School, Middletown, Conn. She received a bachelor's degree from Vassar College in 1951.
After a year of teaching, Cal met and married Henry U. Harder. The couple began their busy life in Greenwich, Conn., raising five active children. Cal returned to teaching and was awarded a master's degree in Elementary Education from Manhattanville College in 1975. Cal taught reading at Greenwich Country Day School from (1970-1980).
In 1988 Cal and Henry Harder began their retired life in Maine. Both embraced new friends, the community of St. Bartholomew's Church, and having time for new hobbies and entertaining family and friends. Cal served on the Board of Christodora House for many years and also served on the board of Paul Smith's College from 1983-1994.
Cal had a lifetime interest in children, her own, and generations of others in both a professional and volunteer capacity. Cal's talents and passions were many. She loved nature, books, singing, storytelling, horseback riding, holidays, biking, swimming in colorful bathing caps, travel, and quiet times with family and friends.
Special places for Cal were her family's camp on Upper Saranac Lake, N.Y. and Elkhorn Ranch in Tucson, Ariz.
So many people were touched by Cal's thoughtfulness. She recognized every milestone in her children's and grandchildren's lives with a little note, a gaily, wrapped trinket - chosen with care.
Always gracious, Cal's beautiful smile remained until her last day.
Cal was predeceased by her parents; Henry, her beloved husband of 52 years; her niece, Avery Lincoln Chappell- Smith; and her close friend and cousin, Hope Coomb Agnew. One of four sisters, Calista is survived by Belle Elmer, Percy Chappell, and Florence Short. Calista is also survived by five children and their spouses: Frederic Harder and his wife Karin Harder of Seattle, Wash., Trudy Briggs and her husband Jim Briggs of Pownal, Calista Hollyer and her husband Jan Hollyer of Shelburne, Vt., Holly Catlin and her husband Bruce Catlin of Lincoln, Vt. and Indian Lake, N.Y., and Henry U. Harder Jr. and his wife Natalie Borrok Harder of Shelburne, Vt. Cal is survived by 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Frederic Harder, Calista Harder, George Briggs, Holly Briggs Cathcart, Katherine Briggs, Alexander Briggs, Ian Hollyer, Elsa Hollyer, Caroline Catlin, Augustus Catlin, Nickolas Catlin, Haley Harder, Henry R. Harder, Charles Harder, and Marcy Elizabeth Cathcart.
A celebration of the life of Cal Harder will be held at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Yarmouth, on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
donations may be made to:
St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
396 Gilman Rd.
Yarmouth, Maine 04096
or Merrill Memorial Library
215 Main St.
Yarmouth, Maine 04096
Calista Lincoln Harder
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Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram from Aug. 30 to Aug. 31, 2012