Sarah Chappell Milam

Sarah Chappell Milam, 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 22, 2024, at her residence in Washington, DC. Born in Greenwich, CT in 1934 to Story Fancher and Marjorie (Betty) Chappell, Sarah graduated from Smith College in 1956 with a BA in Sociology and set her sights on working in New York City. When she walked into the Ford Foundation there, she was hired on the spot as a research associate. Sarah later moved to Cambridge, MA, working at Harvard Business School and starting a family with her first husband, Roland (Robin) S. Homet, Jr.

When she and the family moved to Washington, DC, Sarah worked for President John F. Kennedy, assisting in the development of the Peace Corps. In 1962, Senator Edward M. Kennedy hired her to write correspondence on his behalf to dignitaries. A trusted advisor and voice for the Senator for more than 35 years, she wrote thousands of letters, led the selection of candidates to prestigious military academies, and supported key policy initiatives. Her Senate colleagues credit her leadership in the office as instrumental to Senator Kennedy’s legislative success. When the Senator developed cancer in 2008, he and his wife Victoria turned to Sarah, who had retired several years earlier, for help in composing hundreds of letters in response to those who had written to him to wish him well.

Sarah re-married in 1970, wedding Robert R. "Bob" Milam, Jr. in Ponte Vedra, Florida, in a family ceremony that included four of her children. After the birth of their son Scott in 1971, she and Bob raised five boisterous children at the family home in Bethesda, MD. Together they enjoyed classical and folk music concerts, family gatherings, and many travel adventures - especially cruises - where they attended onboard lectures and met travel mates who often became lifelong friends.

Above all, Sarah will be remembered for her devotion to her family, relishing numerous family gatherings and reunions over the years, and cherishing close and meaningful relationships with her adult children, their spouses and her grandchildren.

Sarah is survived by her sister Martha Chappell Raisor and her brother Charles Clark Chappell. She is predeceased by her first husband, Roland S. Homet, Jr., and her husband of 52 years, Robert R. Milam, Jr. She leaves as her legacy her five children, Cynthia Homet McGuinness, Adrienne Homet Hand, Brian Charles Homet, Jennifer Homet Catto and Scott Wilson Milam, as well as thirteen grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to have known her.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, July 20th at 10 a.m. at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Strathmore Artist in Residence Program, which supports the transition of outstanding local musicians into career artists.