SCOTT, Sarah Alice
Sarah Alice Scott, 66, died January 24, 2017 of sudden cardiac arrest. Sarah was born in Ames, IA, and grew up in Prairie Village, KS. She later lived in Houston, TX; New York City; and finally in Austin.
Sarah was a lawyer and dedicated public servant. She was general counsel to the NYC Medical Examiner's office, and later Chief Administrative Officer for the Travis County Medical Examiner.

She held a BA from the University of Kansas (1972) and a J.D. from the University of Houston (1978).

Sarah is survived by a daughter, Olivia Ann Cory, of New York City (spouse Nazhelly Cortes); sisters, Rachel Scott (spouse Jerry Ulleberg) and Caroline Scott (spouse Donna Garrett), of Austin, TX; and stepmother, Dolly Scott; stepsister, Carol Oliver (spouse Joe Oliver) of Grand Rapids, MN. She was predeceased by parents, Elizabeth Ann (nee Clark) Scott and Duane C. Scott; stepmother, Marion Scott; and a twin sister, Martha, who died in infancy.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Feb. 23 at Church of Christ in Hyde Park, 310 W. 43rd St., Austin. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in her memory to the New York Common Pantry http://nycommonpantry.org, or to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, http://www.wildflower.org.
Memorials and guestbook online at www.wcfish.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Austin American-Statesman from Feb. 5 to Feb. 6, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Sarah SCOTT

Sponsored by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home South.

9 Entries

Deborah Copeland

January 24, 2018

Thinking of Caroline and Rachel on this sad anniversary.

Jack Stonebraker

February 23, 2017

Sarah was a renaissance woman! A true Austinite! I was fortunate to share a nearby parking space which allowed me to talk to her frequently and share our life experiences. Her depth and breath of interests spoke well of her mid-western roots and her cosmopolitan NY sensitivities. I am honored to call her a friend and a neighbor.
Most sincerely, Jack Stonebraker

Veronica Ramirez

February 22, 2017

I was employed for a temp project at TCMEO. Sarah made me feel welcomed and eased any tension I may have felt. She gifted me a pair of earrings for my departure, I will treasure them even more now.

jinee rizzo

February 6, 2017

I was privileged to work with Sarah for a number of years at the Travis County Medical Examiner's office. She arrived at the TCME during a time of immense change. Along with Dr. David Dolinak, she oversaw and implemented a myriad of changes that led to our first NAME (National Association of Medical Examiners) accreditation. She strived for excellence and invested much energy and time into obtaining the resources required for all of us in the Forensic Toxicology Lab to do the same.
When she was thinking of buying a Miata, I gave her a ride around downtown Austin in my Miata, with the top down, of course, and she was hooked. The next thing I knew she was zipping into the ME parking lot in her metallic blue treasure. Fearless. Like riding a bicycle from Brooklyn into Manhattan after 9/11 to help identify human remains at the New York ME.
We met for dinner before Christmas to feast as another contributor has described meals with Sarah and to enjoy the holiday lights on Congress Avenue. We discussed Christmas's past, way past, and her dad who loved to chronicle the Scott family Christmas each year in photographs, black and white. We made plans to get together in the Spring. I'll miss you, Sarah.

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Caroline Scott

February 3, 2017

Thanks for posting comments. As Sarah's younger sister it's very hard to take in that she is gone. I knew her 64 years, at all times of her life so I have a flood of memories. One is of Sarah about age 9. We were on vacation in Minnesota at some rustic cabins on a lake. Someone had left a large wooden cable spool, maybe planning to use it as a table. I remember Sarah balancing and walking on that cable spool as it turned, arms spread wide and a big smile on her face.

Lori Nocker

February 3, 2017

Sarah was a gem. A wonderful person to work with. She will be missed.
Lori Nocker
Travis County Auditors Office

Mike Crawford

February 3, 2017

Sarah's inspirational eloquence, drive for understanding and appreciation of co-workers in not only her department but others within Travis County will be missed. Mike Crawford, Auditor's Office

Annie Garcy

February 3, 2017

Sarah was my dear friend for 40 years. We met in law school. As young lawyers in Houston, Sarah and I handled cases together; she taught me how to advocate for disabled children - Laura, Stacey, David, and Jason - trying to fight for school placement. We attended ACLU meetings together, feasted at restaurants together, and confided in each other. Sarah made pasta from scratch and served me my first Spanakopita and my first gift from her was the cookbook it came from. She introduced me to Ann, another huge gift. She moved to NY and Alan and I eventually moved to NJ, making it possible to see our children get to meet and play and grow up. And we still feasted at restaurants together and confided in each other. She worked for the medical examiner and also taught at law school. September 11 changed everything - Sarah lit a candle that she promised would burn until every tidbit of a person at Ground Zero was matched; eventually the candle was thrown out in frustration and Sarah's spirit diminished. We cried together by the East River and confided in each other. She told me about releasing a tiny spec of a September 11 victim in a full bodybag to an escort on friends on motorcycles - how did she ever survive such a role at the medical examiner's office? It was just terrible to help Sarah a little as she moved to Texas, but all in all it was a good move. Her fabulous and sunlit home and adorable Stuart Little sports car (but hers was blue) gave us reasons to laugh. It was fate that she returned to work for a medical examiner. Ironically, September 11 kept us bound as friends because Sarah returned twice a year for medical exams that she braved as one of the many First Responders. Alan and Matt and I made it a point to find unique places to feast with Sarah. We loved to spoil her because there was no one more grateful that Sarah. So, she could not be curtailed when it came to gifts that were always unique and wonderfully wrapped. Sarah and I kept up an old-fashioned letter writing relationship, too, and a letter from her arrived here the week after she died. That gave me comfort. So, it does not surprise me that Sarah died with an enlarged heart -- it may have been shattered in one way, but was always overflowing with love and graciousness. Alan, Matthew, Michael and I are so, so sorry for Sarah's family and also for ourselves. So, to all of the women in Sarah's family - I thank you for the honor of knowing your Sarah, and also extend deepest sympathy to you because you have suffered an enduring and painful loss with a finality that is crushing. But - oh my - are you not proud?

Deborah Copeland

February 1, 2017

I am so sorry for your loss.

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