She was born Linda May Larrabee on February 11, 1943 in Jamaica, NY to Herbert Manson Larrabee Jr. and Betty Jane Larrrabee.
Linda graduated from The Williams School in 1961. She was President of her class for 5 years, and President of the Student Government her senior year. She graduated from Wheelock College in Boston, MA in 1965, and began her teaching career in 1966 at S.B. Butler Elementary School in Mystic. She also received a Master’s degree in Education from Connecticut College.
In 1966 she married Peter E. Bergendahl, and they had two sons, Peter Jr. and Paul (Woody). While being home with her pre-school children, she served on various committees including the Ladies Auxiliary of L&M Hospital, the Board of the Williams School, Child & Family Auxiliary in Mystic, and the Thames River Garden Club. Linda was clerk of the Groton Long Point Association for 10 years, and a Police Commissioner for four years. She was Rear Commodore for several years, and Treasurer of GLPYC. She was also a member of Ram Island Yacht Club. Linda loved winters in Vermont snowmobiling and skiing. But her family’s first love was sailboat racing, which she continued late into life.
Linda and Peter were divorced in 1985, and in 1988 she married he best friend Jim Blair. She cherished her time with Jim immensely. He died unexpectedly in 1994.
In 1997 she was fortunate to find love again, and married Bruce Lockwood, with whom she spent 15 wonderful years.
She was predeceased by her husbands Peter, Jim, and Bruce. She is survived by her sons: Peter E. Bergendahl Jr and his wife Meg of Noank, and Paul G. Bergendahl and his wife Ann of Noank, and her grandchildren Ella, Tyler, Brooke, Charlie, and Spencer, who affectionately called her “Gigi”. Linda is also survived by her mother Betty Ann Larrabee, here brothers Philip Larrabee and Herbert Larrabee, and her sister Tacie Kehlhem and by her loving step children: James, Sally, Molly, David, and Stephen Blair; and Molly Dominello, Sally Davis, Emily Tuan, and Lucy Lockwood; and many, many step grandchildren.
Linda lost her courageous battle with Lung Cancer at 5:55pm on Wednesday, September 16th, surrounded by her family.
A celebration of her life will be held at Ram Island Yacht Club, 60 Front Street, Noank, on Sunday, September 27th from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
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