Martha Sterner 1948-2021 | In Memoriam

Longtime staff member Martha Sterner has died

Martha Jean Sterner, who served on the Juilliard staff for nearly 20 years her retirement in 2019, died in Austin, Texas, on January 16, two days before her 72nd birthday.

Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Martha attended Westminster Choir College and received her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, where she majored in vocal performance and minored in theater arts. She pursued her theatrical career for a while, most notably in an Off-Broadway play about 19th-century women’s suffrage activist Victoria Woodhull; Martha was the only actor to be selected to join the Broadway cast, though the show closed after opening night. Martha told her story with her characteristic down-to-earth twinkle. She was someone who always found the positive in any person or experience.

In 1987, Martha married Scott Holden, whom she’d met at church. Seven years later, Scott began working at Juilliard, retiring as director of office services in December 2018. In 1998, Martha, who’d been working at Mannes College of Music, joined him at Juilliard, working first as associate registrar. Three years later, she became executive assistant to President Joseph W. Polisi, a position she held until she began working, in 2017, in the Development office (where, among other responsibilities, she helped with the Juilliard Journal) until her retirement, in spring 2019. During their years at Juilliard, Martha and Scott were tireless supporters of students and colleagues, frequently staying after work for performances, events, and recitals.

Martha and Scott were devoted to their daughters, Julia (Pre-College ’08) and Joanna; the Juilliard community; and each other. Sadly, Martha was stricken with ALS not long before their planned retirement to Texas. She will be missed.

Susan Jackson is Juilliard’s editorial director