Sarah Hand Herren

Sarah "Sally" Hand Herren, a native of Washington D.C., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 due to complications from Parkinson's disease and pneumonia. Cherished wife of 55 years to John D. Herren, devoted mother to Lisa, Michael and Allison, and grandmother of Ellie and Catherine, Sally leaves behind a treasured community of dear friends.

Sally was born on November 30, 1939 in Washington, D.C. Together with her brother Bill, weekends during her early years were spent chasing turkeys and collecting eggs from under the turkey hens at her grandfather’s Virginia farm. Summers were spent in Nantucket, where she and Bill were part of the annual ‘Sconset theater productions with the cast drawn from summer residents.

Sally attended The Potomac School, and The Madeira School, before graduating from Smith College in 1961. She then began a lifelong commitment to education through embarking on a career first as a third-grade educator, starting at her alma mater, Potomac. Her teaching endeavors extended to the American Community School in Beirut, Lebanon, from 1963 to 1965 where she again taught 3rd grade. It was here where Sally’s curiosity and love of adventure blossomed as she took advantage of living in the “Paris of the Middle East”, a highlight being a particularly remarkable summer trip with friends, camping in their VW microbus from Mombasa to Cape Town.

Returning to Washington D.C., Sally served as the Assistant to the Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She dedicated herself to various community service roles, notably as a member of the Board of Directors of the Junior League of Washington, where she chaired the Education Committee.

Sally led a full life as a wife, mother and educator. At the core was her 55-year marriage to John, the love of her life, launched on a first date on the tennis court. Their enduring partnership began amidst the backdrop of John's military service, as Sally embraced the role of army bride during his deployments, including a second tour of service in Vietnam. Together, they navigated the challenges and adventures of military life, which included several army bases in Germany and travel across Europe.

Upon returning to Washington D.C., Sally found herself drawn back to Potomac School, where she served for 11 years from 1987-1997 as the Director of Alumni Affairs, leaving an indelible mark with the establishment of the first Alumni Governing Council.

In retirement, Sally continued to be an active member of the Sulgrave Club, working on her great interest in furthering the “Memories” project, intended to capture and record the recollection of Sulgrave Club members since its founding in 1932. Sally also dedicated eighteen years of her time as a mansion docent at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. Her extensive knowledge of the collection, particularly in eighteenth century French and nineteenth century Russian decorative arts, brought the history of Hillwood to life for countless visitors. Sally, a gifted athlete, was an avid tennis player, skier, and in retirement, relished her time on the golf course.

Sally is survived by her devoted husband, Colonel John D. Herren (Ret.) USA; her loving children, Lisa and Michael; her cherished son-in-law, Charles, and daughter-in-law, Karina; as well as her beloved grandchildren, Ellie and Catherine. She was preceded in death by two adored daughters, infant Alice Corcoran Herren, and Sarah Allison Herren.

When asked how she wished to be remembered, Sally's response epitomized her character: "I adored my family.”

Sally will be buried at Arlington Cemetery. A memorial service is planned for late spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sally’s name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (https://www.michaeljfox.org/) for Parkinson’s Research and the Parkinson Foundation (https://parkinsonfoundation.org/).