Susan Bickford

Susan Bickford passed away on January 26 at Wentworth Douglass Hospital after a lengthy and hard battle with cancer. Although this battle was lost, she would not want you to remember how it ended. She would like you to know where it began and the many adventures that ensued. She lived 65 beautiful years in multiple places around the world, including Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Antarctica, and more. Sue grew up in the ‘60s “Women’s Libber” generation and strived to make them proud. She retired as a Senior Master Sergeant after serving 21 years with the 202nd Weather Flight unit in the Air National Guard. During this time, she was mobilized in 2005 in support of “Project IRaqi Freedom”. She spent a summer season working as a meteorological technician at the Aumundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, and loved traveling to far flung regions of the world. She often documented stories of her adventures, showcasing just how much of a character she truly was. Beginning in 1998, Susan worked for the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wells Maine and was one of the first Geospatial Mapping Technicians and Drone Pilots in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. She earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Antioch University while in her 50’s. She went on to found The New England UAV, a drone educational company, as well as her nonprofit 1000 Drones for 1000 Girls. Some of Sue’s additional accomplishments include being a proficient equine teamster with the ability to plow a field with a team of draft horses. As a retirement gift from the Air Force, she had the opportunity to be a co-pilot in a F-15 aircraft that she was given the controls to fly over the Cliff House in Ogunquit, The Wells Reserve, and the Kennebunk Library, which are all her previous places of employment. Through her drone company, she successfully flew missions for MIT and for the Estuarine Reserve in Puerto Rico after a natural disaster. Sue also enjoyed a research trip to Cuba as part of her Master’s Degree program and also completed a course to get her motorcycle license for her 50th birthday. Sue received many military honors including: Antarctic Service Medal; Bronze Service Star; Air Force Outstanding Unit award; Meritorious Service Medal; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; just to name a few. She is survived by her husband Richard Bickford, her mother Jean Costantino, sisters Cynthia Whitehouse, Jane Costantino, and Karen Belanger, along with two nieces and a nephew and their children who consider Susie “the fun aunt” having many adventures with her to remember. In 2006 Sue was welcomed into the Bickford family, which has since grown from five adult children to eleven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren who all loved and adored her. She was also cherished by James and Nicolle Nelson and their four kids. Sue always took it upon herself to guide anyone that was ever in her presence, through the journey of life. This includes her final moments as she held hands with those near and dear to her, especially the children. A quote she mentioned in her Antartica memoir: “I have learned to listen more closely to what my SOUL tries to tell me. “Stop! Look! Listen! Feel! SHARE!” “Budda said, “In the end, these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you learn to let go?” Well I don’t know about the first two, but I get to practice the last one very soon. How do I let go of the South Pole experiences and yet keep it a part of me at the same time? That is the mystery of it all. It is something that everyone must learn for themselves. GOODBYE AND THANKS” A thought describing Sue from someone who loved her: “I want you to know that when I’m alone in the evening and I look up at the starry sky I feel like you are there by my side. The stars will never look the same to me again. Now, they somehow seem to shine like your eyes did when you saw a child, a butterfly, or a rainbow. Yes the stars will never look the same to me again and neither will a child, a butterfly, or a rainbow.” Sue spent many years putting drones in hundreds of children’s hands, and would appreciate your donations in her memory to her non profit 1000 Drones for 1000 Girls. Donations can be made at 1000dronesfor1000girls.org Services for Sue will be at a later date and will be announced when they are finalized.

Susan Bickford

February 16, 1959 - January 26, 2025