Sarah Bankson Newton

Sarah Bankson Newton
On May 2, 2021, following an extraordinary lifetime of loving, caring, and giving, Sarah Newton passed away unexpectedly at the age of 60 after experiencing a medical emergency while traveling. Sarah was a seasonal resident of Palm Beach with her husband, Jeff. Sarah (Bankson) was born in Washington, DC, and spent most of her childhood in Bethesda, MD. She attended the National Cathedral School through 8th grade and later enrolled as a boarding student at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH. It was at St. Paul's where she met her "brothers and sisters" of the class of 1979 who became - and remain - her extended family. After St. Paul's, she went on to Yale University where she studied Political Science and Art History. Following graduation, she began her career in New York City as an Analyst in the Investment Banking unit of Prudential Securities where she met the love of her life, Jeff Newton. When Sarah left Prudential Securities to pursue her MBA degree at The Wharton School, the relationship with Jeff blossomed, and they were engaged four months after their first official date in 1987. Even before they started dating, Sarah introduced Jeff as a colleague to her mother who, after Jeff left, said, "that man is in love with you." Indeed he was. The following September, they were married at The Washington National Cathedral.
Sarah and Jeff started their life together in Boston, where she was employed by Aldrich, Eastman & Waltch (AEW), a real estate pension advisory firm. In 1991, when they learned they were expecting the first of their three children, they moved to Concord, MA and quickly built a broad, loving community of friends and neighbors. Sarah retired from AEW in 1996 and devoted the rest of her life to her family and her community. In addition to raising three wonderful children, she spent countless hours with a number of non-profit entities about which she cared deeply. Many schools and a broad spectrum of community organizations benefited from her unparalleled work ethic and enthusiasm.
Sarah served on the Board of Trustees of St. Paul's School, the Board of Visitors at The National Cathedral School, as a Trustee at The Fenn School, a member of the Board of Advisors of the Tufts University School of Medicine, and at the time of her passing, she chaired the Board of Trustees at Esperanza Academy of Lawrence, MA, a tuition free middle school for girls - "the most difficult and rewarding work" she had ever done. Beyond her education-focused volunteer work, Sarah had additionally served as Director and Overseer of the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, Trustee at the Concord Museum, Corporator of Emerson Hospital, Director of Peter's FUNd Racer for Melanoma Research, and Board Member of The Garden Club of Concord.
On Nantucket, where she spent every summer since the early '90's, Sarah was equally engaged. She served as a Trustee of the Nantucket Historical Association, a member of the Vestry at St. Paul's Church, a member of the Nantucket Committee of the Trustees of Reservations, and a Board Member at The Great Harbor Yacht Club, where she most recently chaired the House Committee and had developed many deep friendships.
Everything Sarah did, she did with purpose, passion and pure joy. She was quick to say "yes" to a meaningful opportunity and was always intentional about working toward making a tangible difference. She pursued these opportunities with her unrivaled energy, a smile on her face, and a twinkle in her eye. She was a talented and deeply impactful leader and community builder whose capacity for making a difference was without limits.
There is no doubt that Sarah's greatest passion was her family. Sarah loved and was loved by her husband Jeff, her three children and their partners, and her newest love, Henry, who made her "Nonnie" with his birth in September 2020. She loved each of her family members deeply and they knew it as she always finished each conversation with "I love you," and would always say how happy she was when all her "chickens" were under her roof. When the pandemic physically separated her from her children, she made every effort to call each of them every single day, and sometimes multiple times a day. Her children always looked forward to these frequent check-ins and will miss them - and her - immensely.
Sarah constantly showed her love in ways both big and small. Recently, she overnighted cookies to her daughter Lindsay and her friends ahead of their medical school Match Day so that she could contribute to their celebration from afar. She was constantly Facetiming with and ordering outfits for her beloved "lil man nug" Henry. Sarah's care extended well beyond her family as well. When COVID hit, she begged her children to bring their wrinkled clothes to her because she was concerned for the dry cleaner's livelihood. In the last few weeks of her life, a store clerk complimented her on her face mask, and without hesitation she went home, sat in front of her sewing machine, made a matching mask, and sent it to her with a handwritten note. She was also known for giving incredibly thoughtful gifts. In the days since her death, two packages have arrived addressed to her: one containing a college sweatshirt for the older son of her childrens' childhood nanny and the other containing a personalized treat canister for her "grand dog."
This is the essence of who Sarah was - looking out for others, whether family, friends, colleagues in community service, or strangers, and doing whatever she could to show that she cared. Words cannot convey the power with which she lived and loved. Known as "Mama Newts" to her children and their friends, she served as a maternal figure to hundreds who will deeply miss her. She loved welcoming people to her home for a delicious meal, whether the standing Sunday night dinner which was open to all comers, or any holiday. She loved welcoming anyone and everyone to her dinner table.
Sarah loved to travel and was able to set foot in all 50 states before turning 50, a long-time goal. Although Sarah and Jeff traveled frequently during their life together, she had a special place in her heart for Italy, Napa Valley, St. Bart's, and Nantucket. At the time of her passing, she and Jeff were visiting the Galapagos Islands with a "pod" of fully vaccinated travelers to belatedly celebrate her 60th birthday in one of her top wish-list destinations. She was so grateful for the long-awaited opportunity to travel safely, and was having so much fun until the very end.
In addition to her husband Jeff, Sarah is survived by: her daughter Avery, husband Kevin, and their son Henry Newton of Needham, MA; her daughter Lindsay and partner Christian Sleeper of Ann Arbor, MI; and her son Chase of Boston, MA. She was predeceased by her mother, Martha Bush Mould. Sarah leaves behind her father, John Bankson Jr., her stepmother Judy Bankson of Gaithersberg, MD; her brother John and his family of Durham, NC; many cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and dear friends; and her two beloved poodles.
She was so dearly loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
There will be a private funeral and burial. A celebration of Sarah's life will be planned for a later date.
If you are inclined to honor Sarah's life, please consider a gift to the Esperanza Academy, 198 Garden Street, Lawrence, MA 01840 (www.esperanzaacademy.org/give) or consider planting flowers in her honor - she was a talented and passionate flower arranger and always maintained beautiful gardens.
To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Sarah's online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.