Sarah Jane Marschner was born on November 1, 1949 in Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, CT. She was the youngest of four children born to Mary Alice (Ball) Marschner and Donald C. Marschner, PhD. Sarah Jane died on August 26, 2022 in Lee, NH where she resided.

Sarah was educated initially in the Greenwich and Darien, CT public school systems. She graduated from the Oyster River High School, in Durham, NH which she attended after her parents moved to Durham, NH in 1962. Sarah graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a major in Acting and a minor in French in 1972. After receiving a Master of Arts Degree from the Department of Education at UNH, Sarah started her teaching career at Newmarket Junior High School teaching English and Reading to 7th and 8th graders. She also coached the drama club. Sarah worked in the Newmarket School System for fourteen more years.

Sarah was encouraged to teach an afternoon class in musical theater at UNH and was hired in 1992 as a member of the faculty to teach full time. For the next twenty-seven years, Sarah taught the History of Musical Theater and Introduction to the Theater to undergraduate students. She also wrote and directed productions for The Little Red Wagon, where she and UNH students traveled to schools, summer camps, and libraries to expose young children to live theatrical performances. Sarah wrote two books that were used in her classes at UNH and other colleges and youth programs: History of Musical Theater and Curtains Up! The latter is a workbook written for teachers and coaches to use in their classes. Sarah retired from the University of New Hampshire in 2019 and was honored by being awarded the title of Principal Lecturer Emerita.

While teaching, Sarah also enjoyed being involved in local community theater. She performed in dramatic and musical summer theater at the Hackmatack Playhouse as well as Directing the Children's Theater Program there. Sarah was active in other local theaters and made many lifelong friends as a result. In addition to Hackmatack, Sarah performed in the Prescott Park Arts Festival, with the Garrison Players in Dover, the Lakeside (Bow) Players in Strafford, Arts Rochester (NH), and The Mill Pond Center of the Arts in Durham.

Sarah loved being a teacher and the students she taught at all grade levels. Her goal was to increase awareness of live theater so that students would at some point in their lives decide to take part in community theater. She introduced them to live theater as an enjoyable activity as well as to the many ways they could participate in the productions.

Sarah Jane was pre-deceased by her parents Donald and Mary Alice Marschner and her sister-in-law, Patricia Myers Marschner. She is survived by two sisters, Mary Ball M. Doherty and Johanna Alice M. Gwinn, and one brother, Timothy Condit Marschner. Sarah had a special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews: Peter Doherty, James and Karla Gwinn, Mark and Kim GwinnLandry, Craig and Michelle Gwinn, and Tim Marschner Jr., Alison Marschner, Kristin and Phil West and Kimberly and Alex Lambert. In recent years Sarah was also able to meet and spend time with thirteen grandchildren of the next generation.

A celebration of Sarah's life will be held on Saturday, September 10th at 11 a.m. at St. George's Episcopal Church in Durham, NH.

Visit www.kentandpelczarfh.com to sign an online guestbook.

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Published by Union Leader on Sep. 7, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for SARAH MARSCHNER

11 Entries

Nicole Bellabona

April 27, 2024

I heard recently about Sarah Marschner´s passing and she was one of my favorite professors at unh. She was smiling and laughing, a great person who loved musical theater. I never knew she also went to my high school.

Cornerstone VNA

October 24, 2022

Cornerstone VNA sends our deepest sympathy for your loss.

Lucy Jenkins

September 10, 2022

Tim and to the entire Marschner family. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. We are so sorry to hear of the passing of your sister and aunt. We send our deepest condolences to all if you. Sending prayers and love. Tom and Lucy Jenkins

Raina Ames

September 9, 2022

These are responses from students when we posted about Sarah on the Theatre and Dance Facebook site:
Dear THDA family:
I don´t know many details, but I have learned that Sarah Jane Marschner passed away. I know she has touched SOOO many lives through the Theatre and Dance department, with students either taking her classes and/or TA´ing for her. She was a dynamo who brought vitality, joy and passion to her work as teacher, director, actor and playwright. Sarah loved her students and colleagues. She made an indelible mark for those of us who knew her, and she was a cornerstone of THDA. She always had a wonderful smile and hug for everyone, and she didn´t pass up the chance to get 435 on their feet doing some physical warm-ups! She performed in so many shows, not only at UNH but also around the Seacoast area, starting all the way back to when she was a college student doing Little Red Wagon. We will miss Sarah dearly.
o Robb Russ
Thanks so much for posting this. Always a star maker!!
Venn Jento
This is so sad. I hope the local news does something. I performed with for many years. I heard people outside the theatre dept say they took that class because of her!
Michael Vaccaro
Awww. Rest In Peace Sarah. Thanks for sharing.
Heather Lee
Sarah. One in a million.
Michelle Doucet Tagliarino
Oh Sarah. So sad to hear this news.
Lindsey Bachler Hadley
She was amazing.
Shaunna Riley
Sarah Jane Marschner we will all miss you so very much. You were the most caring and loving human I have ever met. Keep everyone in heaven dancing until we meet again.
Libby Temple
Thank you for posting this. Her class was so much fun. Rest amongst the stars Sarah.
Stacey Catherine
Such a beautiful spirit. Rest in peace, Sarah
Lyssa Cortellino
I´m heart broken and thankful for the time I had her as an instructor and also getting to be her TA! The world is a little less funny today!
Colleen Lynn
Sad news to read. What a special person indeed she was. She impacted so many UNH students.
Seraphina Caligiure
Thank you for posting this. What a loss, but I feel so lucky to have had her as a teacher and part of my life during my time at UNH. A true gem!
Joshua Clement
She brightened so many of our days with such joy. Thankful we got to share the space.
Antoinette Smith
Thank you for sharing!! Loved the energy she always brought to every class!
Tara Jean
Thank you for sharing. What a beautiful light she was in this world.
Christine Faulkner
Oh no! She was so very special
Bartley Mullin
She was the best!
Kelsey Bevins
Oh, this is devastating. She was an absolute light
Caitlin Sargent Lubelczyk
She was one in a million. We were all so lucky to have known her. She´ll be greatly missed.
Katie Rader
Right?!? This world was blessed to have her in it.
Katie Rader
Oh no! I don´t think I have ever shouted out loud when someone passed before, but I just did now and scared the cat. I know she loved cats so I hope she would have found that amusing.
Jenny Mesisca
Just couldn´t help but smile when she was in the room So glad I got to take her classes and see her joy radiate out to every student.
Steven J Freitas
She will be greatly missed. A sad day for anybody who crossed paths with that amazing woman.
Nate Sawyer
She was always a beam of light on a dull day! She made such on impact on me as her class was my very first college course I attended. I remember walking into her room, sitting near the front, and then when she did her thing, all my nerves dissolved. I remember thinking, " I made the right choice. I belong here and in the THDA dept." And as I relaxed and fell into place, she looked over at me, gave me a little nod that was like, " I see you. You belong with us... Stick with me kid, and you'll go places" She was a Queen in that room, and she commanded the entire kingdom. She was truly a gem and will be missed.
Caitlin Sargent Lubelczyk
Nate Sawyer so well said.
Antoinette Smith
Nate Sawyer She was my first class too and I remember thinking "this is a huge class" and she yelled out and commanded our attention. I was like wow she´s awesome! Her energy and presence is unforgettable
Karl Maier
Thank you for sharing this post. I´m sorry to hear of her passing, but to echo what others have said, I´m so grateful to have known her. She was a force of nature. Break a leg up there Marschner!
Jackie Mrowka
So sad to hear of Sarah´s passing. She was such a joy!
Veronica Foley
She is one of the people in life no one forgets. I remember walking around campus and EVERYONE knew her and loved her, waved at her on Main Street - even all the frat boys on the ATO lawn
Ally Altman
She was wonderful! This is so sad
Sean Quinn
I have never met anyone like Sarah and I don´t believe I ever will. She was the most authentically joyous human and gave so much to everyone she encountered. This is heartbreaking.
I hope all those students who took her class for a Gen Ed know how lucky they were.
Veronica Foley
Sean Quinn yes. The gen ed critts
Haylea Mae Erickson
I wasn't fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take a class with Sarah, but whenever I did see her around the PCAC, she was always smiling and happy and excited about helping the students there and I always appreciated her joy and kindness. She will be missed
Alex Basbas
She made you feel like you were her favorite no matter who you were. I´ll forever be grateful to her for letting my TA her class and for choosing me for the Little Red Wagon.

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The Staff of Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home

September 7, 2022

Offering our deepest condolences at this difficult time.

Eve Corey

September 3, 2022

I taught with Sarah Jane at Newmarket High School.
Her students loved her and she loved them.
I learned a lot from her and she will be missed.

Mark Miller

August 31, 2022

I can't say I got to know Sarah Marschner well; that's on me. But she was part of a group of wacky and fun theater people (Lakeside Players)... the first friends I met when I moved to NH, knowing no one, in October 1979... who kind of took me in when I was a 22-year-old hot mess. Thanks, Sarah!

Darcy

August 31, 2022

Thank you Sarah, for your energy, joy and work.

Jewel Beth Davis

August 30, 2022

Sarah Jane, I send my love with you as you pass along your way of transition. I will miss you so much. No one was more caring of her students and the people she loved. I'm sure we'll never forget the day we got lost on the trains in Montreal and almost missed our performance of "Oh God" at the Fringe Festival there. Boy, that stage manager was mad. Who could blame her? Love you.

Betsy Burgess

August 30, 2022

My fellow Little Red Wagoneer, with more energy and joi de vivre than anyone I know.

Sharon L Demeritt

August 29, 2022

I am so saddened to hear of Sarah's passing. I remember her always with a smile, always so kind, always the thespian. May she now entertain the angels.

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