Sally “Sarah” Hamburger died peacefully on October 15, 2021 at the age of 87. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Sally was the only child of Herbert and Eleanor Simpson, but was also raised by her grandmothers, spending summers with them at the Jersey shore as well as during WW II when her father was in the navy. Her first cousin and dearest friend Cynthia was often by her side during childhood and their sisterhood continued throughout their lives. Sally attended Ohio Wesleyan University where she met her second lifelong friend, Phyllis Wynn.
The summer before her college graduation, Sally met Aaron Hamburger. They married in 1956 and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past June. At the time of her death, they had 3 daughters, Marjorie, Amy, and Julianne; 8 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.
Sally found meaning and purpose in her family, her involvement in her community, in music, and in the Unitarian Universalist faith.
While raising her children, Sally was an active volunteer with their activities and schools, most notably with the Green Circle program, a curriculum designed to help children develop empathy for others and acceptance of ethnic diversity. After moving to Arden, Delaware in 1968, she and Aaron became very involved with numerous gilds and government of this intentional community. Of particular note were serving as Clerk of the Town Assembly and being a founding mother of the Arden Archives Museum. Highlights of Sally’s involvement outside of Arden include serving on the boards of Opera Delaware and the Unitarian Universalist House and being on the review panel for the Delaware State Arts Council.
Sally was a passionate supporter of and participant in the arts, particularly church choirs, theatre, and opera. She sang and performed with amateur theatre companies; in Delaware this included Opera Delaware, the Ardensingers, the Highway Ensemble, and the Arden Shakespeare Gild. She also worked as a production coordinator with Opera Delaware.
Prior to their marriage, Sally and Aaron were introduced to the Unitarian Universalist faith, which immediately became their spiritual home. In addition to their membership in churches at every place they lived, they spent time each summer at Star Island, a UU conference center off the coast of New Hampshire. In each church and at Star Island, Sally found meaning by being actively involved as a participant and volunteer, and at the end of her professional life she became the Program Facilitator at First Unitarian Church of Wilmington.
Sally was an avid reader and lover of words. Sunday mornings were not complete without the New York Times crossword puzzle. She was thrilled to have once been a guest on the NPR Sunday Puzzler with Will Shortz! After retirement, Sally and Aaron traveled all over the world for as long as their health permitted, but Sally was equally happy to sit by the ocean, finding pleasure and peace in the sound of waves on the shore.
A memorial service to be held at First Unitarian is planned for the spring of 2022. In Sally’s memory, contributions may be made to the Life on a Star Conference at the Star Island Annual Fund. Information about giving is found at http://starisland.org/donate/.
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