SARA ENGELHARDT Obituary

ENGELHARDT--Sara

Lawrence. Sally, 73, died on March 25th after a long struggle with Lewy Body Dementia. While growing up in Bronxville, NY with five brothers and sisters, she spent a year in Switzerland with the American Field Service. She earned a B.A. from Wellesley College and a Master's degree from Columbia Teacher's College. She rose to Corporate Secretary at the Carnegie Corporation of New York before moving to the Foundation Center, which flourished under her presidency from 1991-2008. On their wedding day in June 1970, she and Dean Lee Engelhardt roared off together by motorcycle to begin their thirty-eight year marriage. Dean predeceased her on March 25, 2008. Their daughters, Margaret Long (Redding, California) and Barbara Martin (Princeton, New Jersey), gave Sally eight grandchildren around whom her life revolved. A lifelong New Yorker, she loved skiing, running, and yoga, and served on the board of the Wellesley Centers for Women to further her passion for women's advocacy. We will miss her enthusiasm and energetic presence. Donations in her memory may be sent to the Wellesley Centers for Women. Services are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ 08542.

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Published by New York Times on Mar. 29, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for SARA ENGELHARDT

9 Entries

Ingrid Perdew

March 23, 2025

Sara, or Sally, as we called her, was one of my best and oldest friends. We went through elementary and highschool together and were in contact until her death. A surely wonderful and talented person.

Anne and Bill Ronai

April 26, 2017

Our deepest condolences to all of Sara's Family. Sara (Sally to us) and Dean were our dear friends and neighbors when we were in NYC for over 30 years. We frequently had Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners together in Sara's home in NYC where she graciously included as many of her own extended family members (as well as ours) that she could possibly round up. Even after we started spending most of the year first in London and then later in Colorado, whenever we returned to NYC, she would invite us up for tea, an impromptu dinner or drinks so we could catch up and it would seem as though we had never left. When she moved out of NYC after Dean's death, we had hoped we would still stay in touch. Unfortunately, now I understand why she just seemed to disappear. Over the past few years we have always hoped that someday we would be able to re-connect. How sad for us and the rest of her family that now she really is gone. Hopefully they will be as comforted as we are by the many wonderful memories of a life well lived despite the fact it ended far too soon.

Barbara Oddone

April 23, 2017

My condolences to all of you on your loss of your mother and grandmother. She was a much-loved classmate, dorm mate and a longtime friend . I will miss her greatly.

Meg Zocco

April 12, 2017

Sara (and Dean) were vital members of the parent leadership group at Wesleyan University both during and after Margaret's undergraduate years. Their energy, strategic thinking, and warm and engaging natures significantly impacted our work with parents, especially in the fundraising arena. Mentors to me in so many ways, both are missed dearly, but now they are together again to celebrate their deep love and partnership. My sympathies go out to the family at this significant loss of an incredible woman.

Pattie Johnson

April 6, 2017

My deepest sympathy to Sara's family. I worked for her at the Foundation Center for many years and appreciated her leadership and friendship. Pattie Johnson

Maggie Morth

April 3, 2017

Sending my thoughts and sympathies to all your family. Most of my long tenure with the Foundation Center coincided with Sara's, and I and have many good memories of our team. Please know that many of us are thinking of you now.

Claire Rosenzweig

March 31, 2017

On behalf of the Better Business Bureau of Metro NY and the BBB NY Foundation on which Sara served as a valued Board member for many years, please accept our heartfelt sympathy on her passing.

March 29, 2017

To the Engelhardt Family: My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends during this difficult time. I hope that the promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 can bring comfort. Knowing that there's a hope for the ones we have lost in death can be so reassuring.

Sally (left) and Ingrid (right). 1958. Pound Ridge

Ingrid Perdew

March 29, 2017

Sara Engelhardt, Sally, was a lifelong friend going back to elementary school in Bronxville, New York. Over the years Sally, her family, and my family continued to have contact despite living on different continents. Sally and Deans NYC apartment was a regular stopover for all four of my boys and myself whenever we travelled to the US from Spain where we lived. We always felt very much at home there. A big chunk of my past is now gone. Sally will certainly be missed. We send our love and prayers to Barbara, Margaret and their families, as well as to Sally's surviving sibblings.

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