ROCKLAND — William Sternberg was a longtime educator who kept tabs on his students.

"When he would go to high school graduation, he'd take the program and mark off all the kids graduating with honors and going to college who went to South School," said his daughter Beth "BJ" Foster.

"He really loved the children. Whether it was his own children or children he had in school, he would track how well they did."

Mr. Sternberg died Friday at the age of 73.

He met his wife of 52 years, Jane, while they were attending Washington State Teachers College in Machias. Their first home was on Deer Isle, where he took his first job as a teaching principal for the elementary school.

They spent two years living on the island, which his wife said was a good experience for both of them.

"It was different," she said. "If you needed medical care or anything, you had to go off the island. We had the bridge, but there was a toll each way."

After teaching at Deer Isle Elementary School, Mr. Sternberg moved on to a similar position at Stonington Elementary School before moving to Rockland, where he ended up working as the South School principal and later assistant superintendent for the district.

"He always liked to see the children develop in school – how their minds grew. He liked to watch it and look back once they got into high school," his wife said.

He even helped her return to college after a 25-year hiatus and complete her education degree with a focus in special education.

"He helped me all the way through," she said. "We were just a good match."

Together, they traveled to Italy six years ago, fulfilling a dream they had always had.

His daughter said they would travel the country to visit their children and tour the areas where they lived.

"The draw was the family for a lot of those trips, then seeing what was around there," she said.

While the family is spread around the country today, Foster remembers the many Sunday afternoons that her father dedicated to the family.

She said they would take a ride out for ice cream or visit beaches and state parks.

"He was a very big family man," his wife said.

His daughter said he had a very strong work ethic, which he instilled in all seven of his children.

"He always taught us to do our best and work hard," she said.

He was known for visiting the homes of students who were skipping school to encourage them to attend class, his daughter said.

His wife remembers a time when the streets were flooded and he used a rowboat to transport children from their homes to school.

Staff Writer Emma Bouthillette can be contacted at 791-6325 or at: ebouthillette@pressherald.com