Jean (Bedell) Seaward

Jean (Bedell) Seaward, age 97, of Littleton, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in January 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert W. Seaward of 58 years. Jean was born in Lowell, MA to Harold and Florence (Koford) Bedell. She grew up in Lowell; graduated from Lowell High School, and later received a BA from Tufts University. Both Jean and Bob, were educators in the Concord-Carlisle Public School System.

In 1957, combining their knowledge and expertise in summer camping with their experience in teaching and youth development, Jean and Bob purchased three parcels of pasture land and established Camp Nashoba on Fort Pond. Jean was the co-founder of Camp Nashoba Day along with her late husband Bob. She continued to direct Camp Nashoba with her daughters after Bob’s passing in 2008. 

She had a number of interests and hobbies: gardening, reading, tennis, birding, exercising, walking, cross country and downhill skiing, ice skating, sailing, singing, dancing, dogs and horses.

Jean was passionate about “the camp experience”, and all that it stands for: leadership, compassion, team building, confidence building, positivity, fun, community, and love of nature. “Miss Jean” instilled these values and many more in tens of thousands of young people over the last 67 years.

She was a member of the following organizations: American Camp Association (New England), Massachusetts Camping Association, (Recipient of the Pioneers in Camping Award), Massachusetts Audubon Society, and the Congregational Church of Littleton.

Jean received the honor of a Rotary International “Paul Harris Award” from the Rotary Club of Littleton.

She is survived by her three daughters; Marcia Marcantonio, and her husband, Joseph Marcantonio of Littleton, Janet Seaward, and her husband, Matthew Durkin of Littleton, and Sarah Seaward of Littleton, as well as her three grandchildren ; Christina Marcantonio of Boston, MA, Carolyn Marcantonio of Chicago, Illinois, and Harrison Greene of Ithaca, N.Y.

A camp scholarship fund has been established in Bob and Jean’s memory for Camp Nashoba Day. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Robert and Jean Seaward campership. For online donations, http://www.acacamps.org/campership.

Services for Jean will be Private. 

Arrangements under the care of Badger Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Littleton. www.badgerfuneral.com