Faye Vivian Sarkowsky

Faye Sarkowsky was born October 28,1933 in Seattle, Washington to Max and Sue Mondschein, parents she loved deeply. Along with her older brother, Larry, they grew up in the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle. Faye attended Franklin High School and had a circle of girlfriends who got together throughout the rest of their lives. She met her husband, Herman Sarkowsky, when she was a freshman at the University of Washington. They were very happily married for 62 years until Herman passed away in 2014. He was truly the love of her life.

Faye was a volunteer from childhood through her entire life. As a philanthropist, she was a steward and champion of the arts, social justice, Jewish causes, and children’s education and health. Faye was a visionary who helped make dreams possible for so many organizations such as Seattle Art Museum, Children’s Hospital, the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and her lifelong synagogue, Temple De Hirsch Sinai. Faye’s grit, commitment and determination benefited so many organizations and individuals. She was a highly successful fundraiser.

Faye broke many glass ceilings, such as becoming the first female president of PONCHO and the first female chair of the Fifth Avenue Theatre. She worked alongside her late husband, Herman Sarkowsky, another Seattle luminary, to create change. Herman and Faye were jointly presented with the Gates Volunteer Service Award from UW in 2003, as well as the PONCHO Founder’s Award, and the Jerry Pennington Award for service from Children’s Hospital.

Faye served on boards from Seattle to Washington D.C. where she was on the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She was honored by so many organizations for her time, work, and financial support – too many to list here.

She loved her children, Cathy and Steve Sarkowsky (Stacy Lawson) and her three grandchildren Max, Noah, and Shiah Sarkowsky above all. She also loved her “adopted” children and grandchildren completely. She had friends from every stage of her life, with ever expanding circles of relationships and connections. Well into her seventies, Faye was also an excellent tennis player, an art enthusiast and collector with Herman, a consummate hostess, and a lover of travel.

The family is forever grateful for the amazing love and care provided by Joe, Joji, Georgette, Sue, Jona, Mitch, Aileen and Ana. We would also like to thank Rabbi Daniel Weiner of Temple De Hirsch Sinai for his loving support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Faye’s memory to The Jewish Family Service, The Seattle Art Museum, or Temple De Hirsch Sinai.

Private services are being held.