Cary Webb Sears

passed away on April 15, 2022, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Cary Webb was born in Washington, DC on May 25, 1939, to Claribel Taylor Hank and Lt. Cmdr. William Edwin Hank. Her father Lt. Cmdr. Hank, a Naval Academy graduate, earned a Purple Heart and two Navy Crosses for his bravery and skill during the battle of Guadalcanal during WW2. He lost his life on November 14, 1943, when his ship, the USS Laffey, went down during that battle. Gifted in languages, Cary Webb earned a degree in Russian from Bryn Mawr College in 1961, where she was an active alumna throughout her life. She also spoke French fluently. Upon graduation, Cary Webb worked for the U.S. government in Washington, DC. A life-long learner, Cary Webb attended academic lectures at the Union league and was a member of a local French book club. She and her husband Peter played scrabble every evening and kept a running point tally during all the years of their marriage. Cary Webb’s love of world cultures brought her and Peter to over 60 countries and across seven continents during her lifetime. Good friends often accompanied them. In 1973, Cary Webb and her family moved to Tokyo, Japan, where she attended the Sogetsu school of Ikebana, a flower art technique that originated in the seventh century. Her stunning arrangements were often on display at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Cary Webb continued to refine her art throughout the rest of her life and served as president of the Philadelphia Main Line Sogetsu Ikebana Society. She attended Ikebana conferences all over the world. An admirer of Japanese art, Cary Webb collected beautiful pieces over the years, often traveling back to Japan to do so. Family and friends will always remember her as a warm and charming hostess. Cary Webb is survived by her husband, Peter A. Sears, her son Kevin A. Sears, daughter-in-law Kerri Donald Sears, sister-in-law Ann G. Sears, six nieces and nephews and five grand-nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Cary Webb was preceded in death by her son William P. Sears. A private memorial service will be held for close friends and family. In lieu of flowers, donations to Bryn Mawr College in Cary Webb’s memory are welcome.