November 19, 1938 – May 29, 2026
On May 29, 2026, the cookie timer dinged one last time for Marsha Ann Brendlinger. She passed with her children by her side assisting her in a smooth, peaceful transition. Marsha was born on her mother’s birthday on Nov. 19, 1938.
Marsha baked almost every single day of her adult life, delivering bread and cookies to everyone in her sphere. Her culinary delights were sprinkled with love and dispensed with appreciation for each individual, signaling they were important and adored. Her radiant aura was actually an aroma of fresh chocolate chip cookies swirling around and evoking happiness and smiles.
Many stories have been told around the family dinner table that “somewhat” explained how a nice Mormon girl from Provo, Utah, and her roommate, Lola, got mixed up with the dashing but mischievous CU Kappa Sigmas Jack Alan Brendlinger and Robert Redford. After the first double date, between Marsha and Robert and Lola and Jack, there was a realization between the four that they should switch, and that is what happened.
She married Jack and started a life in a little town called Aspen in 1963, building and running The Applejack Inn and then The Tower Restaurant in Snowmass in 1967. Marsha and Jack were integral to the formation of “a place,” and lucky enough to have known the people they did and to become etched in that time of history. They built community by being the community. Marsha and Jack were inducted into the Aspen Hall of Fame in 2009.
Marsha worked at the Wildwood Preschool, choreographed high school plays, fed everyone at the Aspen World Cup Ski Races, was a board member for the Aspen School District, the Aspen Youth Center and Carbondale Council of the Arts. Marsha joined Rotary and lived up to their “service above self” during the initial Ducky Derby fundraisers. Many Aspenites learned and perfected their shuffle-ball-change moves in Marsha’s tap-dancing classes. (She even taught tap to the Rugby Team to work on their footwork, and they showed up to one of her classes — all in pink leg warmers!) So many stories!
Marsha loved to ski so she sold tickets for 23 years at the base of Tiehack. Sleepy little Buttermilk always had a long line at her ticket counter. Conversation and cookies were present and the skiing could wait.
Her husband Jack had a special nickname for her … ”Velcro.” Everything and everybody seemed to stick to her. She opened her house and her heart over the years to numerous exchange students from around the world — New Zealand, Belgium, Argentina, Spain and Sweden. Due to her open arms, a multitude of people would call her “Ma B.”
However, her greatest crown she wore was as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother.
Marsha loved the color purple in all of its forms. It brought her happiness. It is what she held onto when Alzheimer’s slowly took away her stories and the myriad memories of an exceptional life. Her spirit will live on in nature’s purple bounty. Let that purple butterfly alight upon your paddle, the fragrant lupine line your hike and the violet hummingbird buzz by your ear, knowing that Marsha is there with you.
Marsha Ann Brendlinger is survived by her four children: Kurt Brendlinger (Kimberly), Eric Brendlinger (Patty), Dina Farnell (John Wald), Kira Kearsey (Tommy); six grandchildren: Remi Stern (Johnathan), Chloe, Camden, Macie, Jack and Addie. Marsha had two great grandchildren: Juliette and Austin Stern. She is survived by her sister Debbie Stafford (Bob) and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Max and Helen Bray, her brothers Garth Bray and Richard Bray and her husband of 62 years, Jack Brendlinger.
A memorial service will be held on September 26, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please donate and earmark the funds to support outdoor education programs at the Aspen Education Foundation and/or The Carbondale Education Foundation.