Marcia R. Reardan

Marcia R. Reardan (née Rike) passed away peacefully at her residence in Lancaster (Willow Street), Pa., on July 13, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Marcia was born on August 10, 1927 in East Orange, New Jersey. An "Army brat," she lived in and attended school in 15 states before graduating from Delray Beach High School in Florida in 1945. She went on to study at the University of Chicago, graduating at age 19 with a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

Marcia is survived by her children, Ruth Salomone of Westfield, N.J., and Clifford W. Johnston of Reidsville, N.C., and his wife, Dawn. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Laura Marcia Geftic and her husband, Michael, and Evan Alexander Fernandez and his wife, Kristen, and respective great-grandchildren, Julia Sage Geftic, Maximilian Paul Geftic, and Hailey Anne Fernandez.

Also surviving are Clifford's children, Justin Anthony Gray and his wife, Danielle, Kevin Grant Miller and his fiancée, Jess Wall, and Kyle Esser Johnston; great-grandchildren, Skyler Gray, Ethan Gray, Aidan Gray and Anna Gray Dailey, Ireland Gray, Liam Gray and Conner Gray, Reagann Miller, Ryann Miller and Wyatt Miller, and five great-great grandchildren, as well as numerous close friends at the Willow Valley Retirement Community, most notably her dear friend, Susan Donley.

Marcia is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Edwin D. Reardan; her ex-husband, Clifford W. Johnston, and her son-in-law, Paul Salomone.

Marcia had many professional and personal achievements to her credit, including retiring in 1992 as Vice President of J. G. Mulford Company of Westfield, N.J.; board member of the Executive Women of New Jersey, American Association of University Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Urban Ministry of the First United Methodist Church of Westfield.

A brilliant, engaging and erudite woman, well-versed in classic literature and poetry, she became a master competitor in Duplicate Bridge and was working on “life master” status until Covid interrupted tournament competition in 2020. She was an active member of the Westfield Community Players and appeared in several theatrical productions, including a starring role in Man of La Mancha, Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore and The Mikado, as well as other musical productions such as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hello, Dolly! and Ben Franklin in Paris. Marcia sang soprano with the Sanctuary Choir of the First United Methodist Church for 32 years under Directors Phillip Dietterich and Trent Johnson, and with the Masterwork Chorus for nine years under Conductor David Randolph. She also enjoyed singing with the "Extension Chords" barbershop quartet, the Shaker Singers, Oratorio Singers, and the Berkshire Chorus at Canterbury Cathedral.

A memorial service honoring the life of Marcia Reardan will be held  10 am August 12, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church in Westfield, with interment in the memorial garden.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully appreciated by the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, "Common Sense for Animals," of Stewartsville, N.J., or another charity of your choice.