SARAH PRINCE WEST

WEST SARAH PRINCE Of Philadelphia, February 9, 2025 at the age of 87, after an extended battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her three children, Jim, Dan and Carolyn West, along with daughters-in-law, Sandra and Cat and seven grandchildren, Luke, Andrew, Henry, Shane, Elizabeth, Joey, and Rose. Sarah was born outside of Boston, Massachusetts and moved to Philadelphia with her husband Robert West in the early 1960s. She had a passion for science and taught biology at Springside School and Temple University before arriving at Germantown Friends School (GFS) in 1976. Even after she retired from GFS in 2001, she continued to tutor children in reading. Active in the community, she served for a time as president of Weavers Way Co-Op and the Unitarian Society of Germantown. She also performed with the Philadelphia Recorder Society and paddled with the Philadelphia Flying Phoenix dragon boat team. Her love of the Wissahickon led her to write and publish the book Rediscovering the Wissahickon Through Its Science and History in 1993. She was a Trail Ambassador for Friends of the Wissahickon and gave geology walks along the creek. Her favorite rock, a large outcrop of gneiss, was dubbed "Sarah's Rock" in her honor. In 2004 she and her husband moved to Cathedral Village retirement community where she led the Environmental Stewardship Committee, played with the Bell Choir, and taught at the Village College, as well as participated in many other activities. In 2023 she was awarded the Presbyterian Senior Living Altruism Award and the LeadingAge PA's 2024 Volunteer of the Year Distinguished Service Award. A Memorial Service will be held at the Unitarian Society of Germantown on Saturday, March 15th at 1 P.M. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to the Friends of The Wissahickon.