Linda P. Noll, former executive director of the Steppingstone Museum in Havre de Grace and an author, died July 1 at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson of non-small-cell lung cancer. She was 66.
"She was obviously very dedicated to the museum and was on PBS twice touting the museum's accomplishments," said John M. Stanley, who was president of its board from 1989 to 1991 and again from 2001 to 2005.
"She did many things during her 25 years there," said Mr. Stanley, who lives in Havre de Grace.
The daughter of Henry C. Peden Sr., a truck driver, and Mary Catherine Peden, a homemaker, Linda Marlene Peden was born at home in White Marsh. She was raised in Kentucky and California until returning to Maryland with her family and settling in Chase.
She was a 1967 graduate of Kenwood High School. In 1970, she married Richard A. Noll, whom she had met while on a trip to Ocean City.
While living in Bel Air and raising her family, Mrs. Noll began working in 1986 as an assistant executive director at the Steppingstone Museum in Havre de Grace. The museum was founded in 1970 to preserve and interpret the rural heritage of Harford County.
Mrs. Noll was appointed executive director in 1989, a position she retained until retiring in 2012. She oversaw a period of expansion and innovation.
"She was extremely instrumental in starting the artifacts committee that properly documented and preserved artifacts in the museum's collection. She got the gift shop up and running which formerly had been a small operation," said Mr. Stanley.
Mrs. Noll was also fiscally prudent.
"What really stands out in my mind regarding Linda was that she was very budget-conscious, knew how to save money, and enjoyed and loved promoting the museum," said Mr. Stanley.
"She was a very energetic person and always lively. Very seldom did I ever see her down or in a depressed mood," he said. "She loved life and socializing. She was very forthcoming with the volunteers and was just a very nice person to be around."
During her tenure, she established the Steppingstone Blues Festival.
"We have a following. People look forward to the festival every year," she told The Baltimore Sun in a 2007 article. "A lot of blues festivals are outdoors, but we just have such a beautiful setting out here. It's a great way to get away from the rat race."
"Linda was very instrumental in starting the blues festival, which originally had started out as a wine and arts festival," said Mr. Stanley. "It expanded largely through her efforts."
At the time of her retirement, a museum pavilion and rustic-looking stage overlooking the Susquehanna River in Susquehanna State Park, where the museum is located, was named in her honor as "Music on the Noll."
"It was built largely due to her efforts, and we dedicated it to Linda at her retirement party," said Mr. Stanley.
In 2006, she earned a bachelor's degree in pre-museum studies from Notre Dame of Maryland University.
She was the author of three books that were part of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America Series. They were "Around Susquehanna State Park," "Havre de Grace Then and Now" and her last book, "Around Mount Washington," which was published two years ago.
Of the development of Mount Washington, she wrote in the book's introduction that it was "a peaceful, suburban retreat from city life."
The books are illustrated with vintage and historic photographs.
"With Arcadia, it isn't as much about history as it is about the photographs. You can only write about what photographs you find," Mrs. Noll said in an interview with the Baltimore Messenger at the time. "I have a tendency to write too much, and it ends up on the cutting-room floor."
She also had a personal connection to her last book after she moved in 1994 to Mount Washington.
"I wanted to learn about my neighborhood, and this was a great way to do it," she said in the interview.
Mrs. Noll joined the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1977, and later served as regent of the Harfordtown Chapter. She was the founder of the DAR's Benjamin Bradford Norris Chapter.
She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and was a volunteer with P.E.O. International and the Edgewood Chapter of the Jaycettes.
Mrs. Noll enjoyed traveling and was also an avid Ravens fan.
She was a communicant of St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, 740 N. Calvert St., where a memorial Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Thursday.
In addition to her husband of 45 years, a retired financial manager for the National Science Foundation, and her mother, who lives in Mount Washington, Mrs. Noll is survived by a son, William Noll of New York City; three daughters, Danielle Moon of Pinehurst, Lynelle Noll of Anneslie and Michele Alberts of Houston; a brother, Henry C. Peden Jr. of Bel Air; a sister, Carol Michael of Essex; and five grandchildren.