Cheryl Karp Ward

1947 - 2025

Cheryl Karp Ward
A life filled with adventure, laughter, and love came to a peaceful end as Cheryl Karp Ward took her final journey. Born in Hartford, CT on January 26, 1947, Cheryl passed away surrounded by loved ones on September 16, 2025. Like a best-selling book, Cheryl's life was a true page-turner-each chapter bringing new experiences and purpose. A devoted mother, grandmother, partner, and friend, she was known for her vibrant spirit and iconic style.
Cheryl grew up in Suffield, CT, alongside her parents, James Karp and Mary Wagner Young Karp, two sisters, Janice Karp McConnell and Gail Karp Shinners, and her Polish immigrant grandparents, Stanley and Marya Klara Karp, who lived next door on the family farm with her Uncle Frank, and spent summers at the beach in Old Lyme. As the middle child, she leaned into the role with humor-never missing a chance to remind her sisters of it.
Cheryl began her career in the classroom and became a visionary librarian, transforming the Windsor Locks and East Hartford libraries. A lifelong literary advocate, she fought against book banning, stayed active in the American Library Association, worked for a publisher in Nashville, and was a dedicated member of the Warehouse Point Library board.
Though her professional accomplishments were impressive, her proudest achievement was her children. Her relationship with her daughter Sarah Karp Ward was beyond mother-daughter, they were best friends. Cheryl's son, Daniel Patrick Ward, lived with her throughout her illness and became her primary caretaker, and she often said how loved she felt by his care. Her "grandgirlies," Kalina, Emily and Mollie Ward, and Sunny Karp Lakha, were her world and her inspiring cancer fight was driven by having more time with the four of them. She cherished weekly pancake breakfasts with her children, grandchildren and family dogs.
Cheryl found her great love, James Borrup, later in life, and the two of them spent over a decade together traveling the world and going on many dinner dates.
Outside of her family, her passions included running, travel, art, theater, and great wine.
Cheryl is survived by her children, grandchildren, sisters, cousins, extended family, and countless friends including Parvez Lakha, Susie Karp Boggia, Peter Karp, Kelly McConnell, Mary Beth Nilsson, Lucy Weidner, and Nancy Iskra.
Donations may be made to Warehouse Point Public Library or Unite Against Banned Books. The family will be holding a Celebration of Life for Cheryl on Sun., Oct. 19. And as Cheryl often said, "If it ain't one thing, it's a mother."