Elizabeth Ival Stratford

Teacher, Administrator, Musician

Elizabeth Ival Stratford, 100, of Bethel, and for the past two years a resident of Maplewood of Newtown, died March 1. She was born August 6, 1911, in North Queensferry on the Firth of Forth, Scotland, a daughter of Margaret Ival (Goldie) McCusker and John Stiel. She was the widow of Francis Arthur Stratford.

She commuted daily for 35 years to the Mary McLeod Bethune School in Harlem, N.Y., as both a school administrator and a music teacher. In 1986 Mrs Stratford received a master’s degree in English from Western Connecticut State University at age 74, and taught English as an instructor for the college.

In her retirement, she and a close friend studied Shakespeare at Oxford University in England and visited her Scottish village. She was a lieutenant colonel in the 399th squadron of the Civil Air Patrol based at Danbury Airport.

Mrs Stratford sat second violin for the Danbury Symphony for 35 years. She was a member of the choir at St Mary’s Church, Bethel, and volunteered for the Red Cross annually.

She is survived by her son Colonel Francis Stratford, MD, and his wife Carol of Dover, Del., and her daughter Margaret Ival Stratford-Kovner and her husband Ronald Kovner of Bethel, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated ay March 5. Burial was in St Mary’s Cemetery, Bethel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Danbury Symphony Orchestra, 256 Main Street, Danbury CT 06810.

The Newtown Bee        March 16, 2012