In Memory Of
Sarah Churchill Downes
1935
2017
Sarah Churchill Downes
November 13, 1935 — May 25, 2017
Albany, NY - Sarah Churchill Downes (Sally), 81, died on May 25, 2017 of natural causes. Sally was born in New York City on November 13, 1935 to Lawrence and Elizabeth Churchill and grew up with two siblings, Susan and Lawrence, in Delmar, NY.
Sally married Edward J. Downes, Jr. in 1957. They had four children together, Edward, Stephen, Elizabeth and David, who survive her. She cherished her grandchildren, Naomi, Jesse, Julia and Kristopher, as well as her daughters-in-law, Rebecca Downes and Sandy Downes, and her son-in-law, David Cassuto.
In the mid-1970s, Sally earned her LPN degree at the College of St. Rose in Albany and became a private duty nurse. She returned to school in the early 1980s to earn her Masters in Social Work (MSW) from the University at Albany.
During this time she volunteered at Refer Switchboard, a crisis intervention hotline, and later was hired as a staff counselor at Project Equinox in downtown Albany. At Equinox, Sally found her vocation as a community activist and therapist. She helped many people with family trauma, drug addiction and homelessness.
In 1987, Sally was hired as the first district-wide School Social Worker at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district, a job she loved for 20 years. At RCS, she helped hundreds of students and their families manage personal crises, from drugs and divorce to learning difficulties and abuse. She often met with families on home visits and sometimes accompanied people to court.
Sally engendered trust. She listened and spoke without judgment. Often she was able to educate and expand the minds of children and parents who had been previously suspicious of "therapy."
Sally had a spirit of adventure that inspired her to go back to school and pursue her career later in life. She was a private pilot and a volunteer EMT. She loved to travel, try new foods and experience the arts. After retirement, she became an accomplished card maker.
But simply and most of all, Sally cared deeply about people. She was determined to make a difference in their lives - be it a student, a kid's mom in the neighborhood or a scared street teen. We are proud of her contribution to RCS and the Albany community.
A memorial will be held Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 3:00-5:30 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12206, (518) 463-7135. Albany UU is located at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Robin Street, across from the University at Albany (SUNYA) downtown campus.
In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to Equinox:
Equinox
500 Central Ave.
Albany, NY 12206
Attn: Development
Please specify that it is in memory of Sally Downes.
OR
www.equinoxinc.org
Click the orange Donate button in the upper right corner, then Give Now.
Please specify that it is in the memory of Sally Downes.
Sally married Edward J. Downes, Jr. in 1957. They had four children together, Edward, Stephen, Elizabeth and David, who survive her. She cherished her grandchildren, Naomi, Jesse, Julia and Kristopher, as well as her daughters-in-law, Rebecca Downes and Sandy Downes, and her son-in-law, David Cassuto.
In the mid-1970s, Sally earned her LPN degree at the College of St. Rose in Albany and became a private duty nurse. She returned to school in the early 1980s to earn her Masters in Social Work (MSW) from the University at Albany.
During this time she volunteered at Refer Switchboard, a crisis intervention hotline, and later was hired as a staff counselor at Project Equinox in downtown Albany. At Equinox, Sally found her vocation as a community activist and therapist. She helped many people with family trauma, drug addiction and homelessness.
In 1987, Sally was hired as the first district-wide School Social Worker at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district, a job she loved for 20 years. At RCS, she helped hundreds of students and their families manage personal crises, from drugs and divorce to learning difficulties and abuse. She often met with families on home visits and sometimes accompanied people to court.
Sally engendered trust. She listened and spoke without judgment. Often she was able to educate and expand the minds of children and parents who had been previously suspicious of "therapy."
Sally had a spirit of adventure that inspired her to go back to school and pursue her career later in life. She was a private pilot and a volunteer EMT. She loved to travel, try new foods and experience the arts. After retirement, she became an accomplished card maker.
But simply and most of all, Sally cared deeply about people. She was determined to make a difference in their lives - be it a student, a kid's mom in the neighborhood or a scared street teen. We are proud of her contribution to RCS and the Albany community.
A memorial will be held Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 3:00-5:30 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12206, (518) 463-7135. Albany UU is located at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Robin Street, across from the University at Albany (SUNYA) downtown campus.
In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to Equinox:
Equinox
500 Central Ave.
Albany, NY 12206
Attn: Development
Please specify that it is in memory of Sally Downes.
OR
www.equinoxinc.org
Click the orange Donate button in the upper right corner, then Give Now.
Please specify that it is in the memory of Sally Downes.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sarah Churchill Downes, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Saturday, June 17, 2017
3:00 - 5:30 pm (Eastern time)
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
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