MILFORD - Sydney C. Thomas, 57, passed away unexpectedly Dec. 12, 2011. She was born April 23, 1954, in Long Beach, Calif., daughter of the late Gregory and late Sybil (Dufton) Bernard. Sydney grew up in California and graduated high school in Long Beach, Calif., in 1972. She went on to the University of Rochester in New York. After obtaining her doctorate, she became a professor at the University of Maine, Orono. Sydney found great joy in animals, especially her own, Livvy, Scoot and Newton. She was a member of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and after her retirement, she volunteered at Avian Haven, Freedom, helping rehabilitate injured birds. She enjoyed bird watching and photography. She was also a ballet dancer who was still dancing on point when she passed away. Sydney is survived by her two children, Jesse Paul Duncan and his fiancee, Jenni Thomas, and Julia Kill and her husband, Craig; and her five grandchildren, Kacia May, Hadley and Radley Duncan, Casey Ryan and Caitlyn Marie Kill. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at The Church of Latter-day Saints, 639 Grandview Ave., Bangor. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sydney's honor may be made to ASPCA, 424 East 92nd St., New York, NY 10128-6804 or at aspca.org; PETA at peta.org; or Avian Haven, 418 North Palermo Road, Freedom, ME 04941. Notes of condolences may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com.