Stephanie R. Blecharczyk, of East Boothbay and Ocean Park, Maine died peacefully on Dec. 21, 2017, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

Stephanie was born in Englewood, New Jersey on Dec. 29, 1935, to parents Steven and Ruth (Chase) Adams. The oldest of three children, she graduated from Cranston High School in Cranston, Rhode Island, class of 1953 and earned a bachelor of art degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1957.

A lifetime educator, Stephanie went on to earn her master’s degree from URI and taught food science programs there for 15 years. She earned her Ph.D. in education from the University of Connecticut in 1975 and taught teacher education classes at Keene State College in New Hampshire for more than 20 years. She moved to East Boothbay in 1998 and became an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Maine at Lewiston, teaching various child psychology and human development courses. Despite illness during the past few years, Stephanie continued to teach part time at USM until May of 2017 and finally retired at 81 years old.

Stephanie was very active in her Boothbay community, supporting various fundraising activities of the Boothbay Region Land Trust and being an active Rotarian, including hosting visiting Rotarian groups from as far away as New Orleans and Nigeria. She enjoyed her local book club, her mahjong group and during many summer seasons, she sang in the Lincoln Arts Festival Chorus.

Ocean Park was another community of great importance to Stephanie. She spent her childhood summers there and had her first jobs as a teenager there, as a chambermaid and then as a waitress at the Ocean Park Restaurant. Her cottage, the Minioka, has been a beloved gathering place for family since its purchase in 1969. In recent years she has served on Ocean Park Committees, sung in the Temple Choir, and served as the vice president of The Educational Bureau of Ocean Park.

Both in Ocean Park and in Boothbay, Stephanie loved to host special gatherings of family and friends. She was a great cook and was known for her sit down dinners for 30 or more people, her Halloween parties, and her Christmas potluck after caroling at St. Andrews Village. She created so many special occasion cakes, including wedding cakes for her son, daughter, niece and nephew, that she became known as the Cake Lady to those who enjoyed them.

Stephanie was predeceased by her brother, John Dudley Adams.

She is survived by a son, Jeffrey Blecharczyk, his wife Leslie and granddaughter Grace; a daughter, Jennifer Roberts, her husband Tracy and granddaughters Alexandria and Christiana; former husband, Steve Blecharczyk and wife Sally; a sister, Beth Keene; sister-in-law, Nancy Adams; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, 125 Townsend Avenue, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stephanie’s name to Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Rd., Scarborough, ME 04074. To view Stephanie’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com