Rev. Brenda Stiers, 74; Former Greenwich Commission on Aging Director

Reverend Dr. Brenda Jane Stiers, of Boulder, CO, died unexpectedly Nov. 10, 2013 in Boulder Community Hospital after battling sepsis. She was 74.

Brenda dedicated her life to helping others through her ministry in the United Church of Christ and extensive volunteer service. Her passions included politics, movies, books, and traveling.

After graduating from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1960, she went on to earn an M.S. in History from Southern Connecticut State University in 1968, a Masters of Divinity from Yale Divinity School in 1983, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1990. Brenda and her husband, Tom, were longtime residents of Old Greenwich, where Tom was senior minister of the First Congregational Church UCC of Greenwich. After Tom’s retirement, Brenda and Tom worked in New York, NY; Phoenix, AR; and Seattle, WA; before settling in Boulder.

Brenda’s long career included working as Director of the Sage Advocate Program in New Haven; Director of the Commission on Aging in Greenwich; Executive Director of the Council of Churches and Synagogues of Lower Fairfield County; Executive Minister of The Riverside Church, New York City, NY; Executive Director of the YWCA, Greenwich; as an interim minister for several congregations; and as a lecturer in Pastoral Theology at Yale Divinity School. Brenda served in numerous leadership positions as a volunteer with the National Council of Churches and other ecumenical and social justice organizations, and she treasured her time on the Board of Advisors of Yale Divinity School.

She spent many hours supporting local homeless, hunger, and elder organizations, and she recently provided leadership on the Boulder County Commission on Aging and the Newcomers Club.

Brenda married Thomas Lowell Stiers in the Gobin Memorial Methodist Church in Greencastle, IN, in 1961.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Gretchen Stiers and wife Silvana Solano; her daughter Heather (Stiers) Dorn, husband Jonathan Dorn, and grandchildren Hadley and Abigail Dorn; her sister Barbara Bunting and brother-in-law David Bunting; and many loving cousins and in-laws.

A Memorial Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Brenda J. Stiers Scholarship Fund at Yale Divinity School 409 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511 or a Gift to the First Congregational Church of Greenwich.