96 years

Sunnyvale

Mildred Blacklock Lincoln of Sunnyvale, California, died March 30, 2025, of a sudden intestinal blockage resulting from scar tissue from major surgery in 2011 for a ruptured appendix. We are grateful to have had those extra 14 active years with her. Just before her passing, Mildred spent 2 weeks in the hospital and several days at home, reminiscing with family members.

Mildred Apele (Anne) Blacklock was born in 1928 in Jamaica, Queens County, New York. While at Jamaica High School she studied at the School of American Ballet in Manhattan, commuting by subway three times a week.

She continued dancing at Radcliffe College, where she majored in Fine Arts and “minored in Choral” as an alto and president of the Radcliffe Choral Society. After college she worked at the Worcester Art Museum, the Picture Collection of the New York Public Library—where she met her future husband James (Jim) Lincoln—the Delaware Art Center, and the Winterthur Museum.

Mildred and Jim started their family while living in Wilmington, DE, and Chadds Ford, PA. They then moved to Indianapolis, IN, and Albert Lea, MN, before settling in Sunnyvale in 1969. In addition to raising children and then supporting Jim in his home advertising and marketing agency, Mildred volunteered with arts and music organizations, interviewed prospective Harvard and Radcliffe students, sang in the St. Thomas Episcopal Church choir, served on the altar guild, volunteered at the Our Daily Bread meal program, and donated many gallons of blood. When the children reached high school, Mildred resumed taking ballet classes, even getting backen pointe, then attended Jazzercize and yoga classes into her 90s. Mildred and Jim enjoyed more than 20 years of international travel together, admiring the art, music, and natural wonders of the world.

Mildred was the granddaughter of Apele Atoa and William Blacklock, and Mary Marshall Constantine and Buell Constantine; the daughter of Barbara Constantine Blacklock and Charles Blacklock, Sr.; the sister of Charles (Carlo) Blacklock, Jr.; the mother of Elizabeth (Betsy) Lincoln Mathieson and Robert Lincoln; the mother-in-law of Scott Mathieson and Cathe Lincoln; the grandmother of Claire Mathieson, Alec Hargrove-Mathieson, and Beverly and Chad Lincoln; and the grandmother-in-law of Allison Hargrove-Mathieson. Mildred’s husband Jim died in 2015.

In lieu of flowers, Mildred asked that donations be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church (231 Sunset Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086); the Our Daily Bread meal program at St. Thomas (http://ourdailybread-sunnyvale.org/); or the Sierra Club. A memorial service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Saturday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m.