Sara
The first time I met Sara was in New York City at her club. Agnes Scott had sent me to the city to reacquaint Sara with her alma mater. On that evening, she swept into the room with such grace, confidence and…je na sais qua that I was dumbstruck. I felt like a country bumpkin, even though I had grown up in a city, and she had once been Little Sally Ector from Marietta.
I wish I could have been the fly on the wall for that metamorphosis from little Sally to Sara, citizen of the world. She did say that at some point she knew that if she could speak a foreign language fluently, she could create a whole different – and far broader world. And in adulthood, Sara presented as at least as French as American.
I was so fortunate that following my New York visit, Sara folded me into her circle. Since I had children in New England schools, and Sara was an incredibly generous and hospitable hostess, she also repeatedly welcomed me into the Norfolk (“nor-folk - not nor-fuck”) home.
I came to appreciate Sara’s incisive mind and her sharp wit which eclipsed her amazing competence in so many areas including culinary and horticultural skills. And, of course, her bottomless love for Alec and Dan was always apparent.
The result of my initial encounter with Sara was that she devoted many years – and countless hours – to make Agnes Scott a better place. One of her lasting legacies was her hand in crafting the college’s mission statement calling for its women to “think deeply, live honorably and (be engaged in) the intellectual and social challenges of the times”. Sara did all that – and loved abundantly as well.