Sally Streamer

Sara (Sally) A. Streamer, a lifelong Boulder resident, died Sunday, October 31 at Frasier Meadows Manor. She was 84. Sally was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years Frank M. Streamer, her brothers Sanders G. (Sandy) Arnold and E.R. (Pat) Arnold. She is survived by her brother William G. Arnold, Jr.

Sara Jane Arnold was born at the Boulder Memorial Hospital on November 10, 1925 to William Glenn and Louise Gibson Arnold. She attended Boulder schools, graduating from Boulder High School in 1941 at the age of 16. She enrolled in the University of Colorado, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1944 and a Master’s Degree in Geography in 1946. A member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Sally was fond of mentioning that her official CU transcript included the observation that she “attends many parties.”

After completing her Master’s degree, Sally married Frank Streamer and began teaching geography classes and geology lab courses at the University of Colorado. When WWII ended and the male faculty of the geography department returned from military service, Sally was relieved of her duties in order to make room for the returning male faculty. Sally spent many happy years doing volunteer work, improving her golf game, and raising four small children. But, by 1960 when the Streamer’s youngest daughter had started school, Sally went back to her first love, which was teaching. She joined the faculty of the then new Baseline Jr. High school, teaching geography and history.

Sally enjoyed her retirement; reading, travelling around the world with her husband and daughters, going to her cabin in Four Mile Canyon, playing golf, winning bridge tournaments in America and Mexico, and tirelessly rooting for the Buffs.

Sally is survived by three daughters. Weezie (Tom) Potter of Grand Forks, ND; Shelley (Jeff) Stiffler of Boulder; and Margie (Mac) Thacker of Frederick, MD. The couple’s oldest child, Frank M. (Crick) Streamer, a U.S. Marine, died in Viet Nam in 1969. Sally is also survived by eight grandchildren, Sara Potter Whalen; Tom Potter; Glenn Potter; Ginny Stiffler Irvin; Margie Stiffler Modrzejewski; Rob Thacker; Chad Thacker; Crick Thacker; 12 great- grandchildren and her beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Peanut.

Just days before her death, a health care worker at Frasier Meadows Manor asked the question which had become so familiar to Sally and her family over the years; “Were you ever a teacher at Baseline Jr. High?” When Sally answered yes, she heard one last time from a former student, “Mrs. Streamer, you were the best teacher I ever had.”

A funeral will take place at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church November 23 at 10 am.

The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to the Crick Streamer Memorial Fund, CU Foundation or the Boulder County Humane Society.