Bernice Steinke Colvard

Bernice Steinke Colvard

Volunteer, Historian

Bernice Steinke Colvard, 87, longtime historian for the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, died October 5, 2021, at Fairfax Hospital. Bernice was born in Wisconsin in 1933 and moved as a child to the Richmond area. She graduated from what is now Virginia Commonwealth University and later received a master’s degree in counseling at American University. She married Patrick Colvard in 1956, and they lived in Germany before settling in Northern Virginia. She was business manager for her husband’s dental practice for 40 years before retiring in 1998.

In 1972 Bernice joined the Fairfax League of Women Voters and served on their board of directors in various capacities for many years, as Bulletin Editor, Unit Coordinator, Treasurer, Finance Director and PR Director. She particularly enjoyed the position of League’s historian. Her publications included Tracing Our Roots: From Seneca Falls, New York to Fairfax, Virginia, published in 1997 to commemorate the Fairfax League’s 50th anniversary, and Virginia Women & the Vote, 1909-2009: the Equal Suffrage League & the League of Women Voters in Virginia. Bernice also served as a Girl Scout troop leader, assisted the Wakefield Forest PTA Players and the Annandale-Springfield Girls Softball League, and served as VP on the board of the Northern Virginia Dental Society Auxiliary. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, and lunches with her many friends, as well as reading, research, and writing.

She was predeceased by her husband in 2014 and her sister in 2019. Survivors include her two daughters, Anita Colvard and Lisa Colvard.

A private memorial will be held. For those wishing to do so, memorial contributions may be made to the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (https://www.lwv-fairfax.org).