Mary Johnston, 90, volunteer, loved bridge
Mary Stewart Cunningham Johnston of Branchville Road, a longtime Ridgefielder who volunteered for several community agencies, died at her home Sunday, June 16. She was 90 years old and the widow of Joseph E. Johnston of North Salem, N.Y.
A native of New York City, Mrs. Johnston was born on May 31, 1912, daughter of William and Marion Cunningham. She graduated from the Master’s School at Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Mrs. Johnston had been a homemaker and had moved to Ridgefield in 1956. For a while in the 1970s, she had lived in North Salem, returning here to live on Branchville Road nearly 25 years ago.
Over the years Mrs. Johnston had worked as a volunteer at the District Nursing Association, now the Visiting Nurse Association, and at the Thrift Shop and the Ridgefield Library.
A longtime member of the Silver Spring Country Club, Mrs. Johnston enjoyed golf. She especially loved bridge, and played in many local bridge groups over the years. She was a longtime summer resident of Osterville, on Cape Cod, Mass.
More than 200 people attended her 90th birthday party in late April at Silver Spring Country Club.
Mrs. Johnston is survived by a daughter, Sara Stewart Champion of Manhattan; a niece, Anne Cunningham O’Neill of Manhattan; and a nephew, David Cunningham of Washington, D.C. Her only son, William Stewart Champion, was killed in a auto accident at age 20 in 1967.
There will be a private burial at the Cunningham mausoleum at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in North Tarrytown, N.Y. A memorial service will be announced later.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Ridgefield Library, 472 Main Street, or the Visiting Nurse Association, 90 East Ridge Road.