Sally Rapelye Briggs

1949 - 2023

Sally Rapelye Briggs
November 23, 1949 -
September 15, 2023
Sally passed away peacefully at home with her immediate family at her side following a nearly two-year battle with esophageal cancer.

Sally was born in Providence, RI, to Robert and Ruth Frances Rapelye. She attended Lincoln college-preparatory school, whose Quaker principles helped inspire Sally's anti-violence, pacifist beliefs and deep-rooted vision of a peaceful and equitable world. She also loved to recall her summer as artist and cook at the Luethi-Peterson Camp in Switzerland, a program that brings multi-national youth together to improve international understanding.

Sally graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1971, where she focused on painting, but where she also fine-tuned her love of theater acting. Following graduation, Sally joined the Looking Glass Theatre, a National Endowment for the Arts theater company that brought productions into local schools. One such production relied heavily upon her singing voice, so Sally joined a Brown University Choir for a 1972 Christmas concert. There she met fellow student member, Scott Briggs. From this day onward, Sally and Scott were together.

In 1973, Scott's graduate studies brought Sally and Scott to Cambridge, MA, and then to Woods Hole on Cape Cod. While in Cambridge, Sally taught art at a Waldorf School and earned a diploma in French Cuisine from the famed chef Madeleine Kamman. After moving to Cape Cod, Sally and Scott were married in August 1974. Sally built a successful catering business and was head chef at two local restaurants. Sally also taught art in the Falmouth public school system where she used her art and theatrical skills to overcome the language barrier of working with a large local Portuguese/Azorean population.

In 1979, husband Scott's post-doctoral studies brought Sally and Scott from Cape Cod to Palo Alto, CA. Here Sally worked at the restaurant St. Michael's Alley, built another successful catering business, and taught art at the El Carmelo Elementary School. Son Nicholas was welcomed in January 1982, and daughter Elissa arrived two years later after relocating to Sebastopol in 1983.

From 1983 until illness forced her to discontinue teaching in 2022, Sally taught art in Sonoma County. She briefly taught at Richard Crane Elementary School in Rohnert Park, and at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, but spent most of her long art teaching career in Sebastopol, where she was known by generations of students as Mrs. Art. Sally was roving art teacher to Park Side Elementary, Brook Haven School, and the former Pine Crest Elementary School, and then taught art for 12 years at Analy High. After retiring as Analy Art Department Chair, Sally led Apple Blossom Elementary School's art program for several more years. Sally was honored as Sonoma County's Fine Arts Teacher of the Year in 2003, was awarded the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce Service to Youth Award in 2012, and received Sebastopol Rotary's Career Teacher of the Year Award in 2022.

Sally was always looking for ways to help those in need. Examples include establishing a long running "Empty Bowls" project to support local food banks, supporting the Laguna Foundation through sales of her artwork, and countless catered events for non-profits.

Sally's unwavering positive attitude spread joy to the world around her. She found the artist and magic in every child (and grown up) she met. Her energy was infectious, and she will always be remembered for her wild hair, her vibrant smile, and her passion for life.

Sally is survived by Scott, her loving husband of 49 years, son Nicholas, daughter Elissa, her grandchildren Landon, Mia, Libby, and Christopher, and her sister Nancy and brother Peter.

Please join us for a casual celebration of Sally's life at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts on October 5, 2023, from 3:30 to 7:00 PM. For those inclined, an opportunity will be provided to share memories around 5:30. Light food and beverages will be served. Sally asked that anyone wishing to donate in her name please consider the Rotary Club of Sebastopol's Mark Sell Teacher Grant Program, PO Box 213, Sebastopol, CA 95472. The family has also established the Sally R. Briggs Art Education Scholarship, for which checks (made out to Analy High School) can be sent indicating this purpose c/o Brigitte Deleon, Analy High School, 6950 Analy Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472.