Ward Joseph Stothers' Obituary
Ward Joseph Stothers, 72, of Berkeley, California, passed from this earthly life on Friday, 16 March 2018, while those in Ireland woke to celebrate their Patrick. He passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with Parkinsonism.
Ward was born in the Bronx borough of New York City on 11 July 1945 to Joseph and Anne Walsh Stothers. He grew up as the youngest of four children. Ward was a superb dual-sport athlete, playing baseball and running track. He graduated from Our Lady of Angels, Cardinal Hayes High School and received his B.S. and teaching credential from Hunter College. He later earned a Masters of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
He met Marda Quon on New Year’s Eve, 1970, and they married on 10 October 1971 in Los Angeles.
He began his first career as a Physical Education teacher at PS66 in the South Bronx. After moving to the Bay Area, he worked in education as a coach, teacher and principal. He founded his own alarm company, East Bay Security, which he owned for 25 years. He received a call to Ireland in the mid-nineties and prepared to answer it by attending seminary and becoming a pastor. In 2008, he and Marda moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where they served for six years as faith based volunteers (www.quonstothers.com). His book of poems and prayers, Plain Drink Tea, was published in 2014 before they returned home to California.
His passions were many. Foremost he was a Christian, a lover of theology and a wordsmith. He loved spending time with his children, telling dad jokes, pulling off dad pranks, tending to his African violets, jamming to U2 and watching Cal sports.
He is survived by his wife Marda Quon Stothers, daughter Alaina Stothers, son Jerem Stothers and son-in-law Conor Callahan, sister Eleanor Stothers, brother Bill Stothers and sister-in-law Diana Stothers, brother Jim Stothers and sister-in-law Phyllis Stothers and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held in mid April. Contact a family member if you don’t get the details. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Family Caregiver Alliance (www.caregiver.org) or a charity of your choice.
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