Sarah Higgs Pedersen of Wellesley, MA, passed away peacefully in the afternoon of August 4, 2022 after a courageous two and a half year battle with ovarian cancer. Her husband of almost 40 years, Pete, was at her side when she died. Sarah is survived by Pete and their four adult children, Bill, Jessica, Katie and Brian, as well as her parents, John and Helen Higgs of Vero Beach, FL, and her sisters and their husbands, Anne and Bob Morin of Washington, D.C., Julia and Peter Leo of Jupiter, FL, and Susan and Tim Byrne of Mt. Kisco, NY.

Sarah was born on a U.S. Army base in Virginia on October 27, 1957. She grew up in Pelham, NY, attended Wellesley College, and earned her MBA from the University of Chicago Business School. She married Pete in 1982. In her late twenties, she spent a year in Japan as a Luce Scholar alongside Pete. Afterward, she launched a career in healthcare administration. Sarah served in various roles such as the head of the Center for Cost-Effective Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before shifting her focus to family and volunteer pursuits.

Sarah was active in the Wellesley community as well as in Chautauqua, New York, where she spent part of every summer of her adult life. Sarah will be remembered as a tireless, enthusiastic volunteer who served in an array of leadership positions at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, the Wellesley Scholarship Foundation and the Wellesley Public Schools. She was a longstanding member of the Wellesley Town Meeting, where she advocated for public education, and the Wellesley Service League.

Sarah loved being outdoors, often walking, rowing, running, swimming, cross-country skiing or exploring in any way available. She was an incredibly thoughtful person who was generous with her time, listened patiently, and provided wise advice that helped many through difficult situations. The love and happiness that Sarah spread in her 64 years was boundless, and all those who knew her will cherish her warmth and friendship forever. Sarah spent nearly all of her life thinking and caring for others, and she will be in the hearts and minds of all those close to her. Most of all, Sarah will be remembered as a loving daughter, mother, spouse, aunt, and friend, as she spread her infectious optimism among all those she encountered. Her immense kindness, optimism, and joy inspired others to be the best versions of themselves. We are better for having had her in our lives.

A celebration of Sarah’s life was held at 10:30am on Saturday, September 24th at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wellesley Scholarship Foundation.

Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Homes.