Born on October 1, 1922, Sally grew up in Waban, MA, the middle daughter of her beloved parents, Merrill Potter and Hazel (Holmes) Delano. She attended Newton public schools and went on to graduate from Bradford Junior College where she was active in student government.
While working in her father’s stores, Delano’s, she met and married her wonderful husband, William H. Wightman. Her future mother-in-law, Hazel Wightman, CBE, known as “The Queen Mother of Tennis”, introduced them. Sally herself was an avid sportswoman and voted “Best Athlete” in her graduating class at Newton High School. All who knew her admired her skill, grace and sportsmanship on the ski slopes, the tennis court and the golf course.
Raising her family in Wayland, MA, Sally was a popular volunteer and public servant. She served on the Wayland Parks and Recreation Commission and was awarded the “Friends of Youth Award.” That she was one of the few female Little League baseball coaches at the time was not a big deal to her. She told a reporter from the Wayland Town Crier, “I grew up playing baseball in a time long before the question of girls playing with boys became an issue.”
In later life Sally retired with her husband, Bill, to Chatham on Cape Cod. Together they spent many afternoons happily in pursuit of bluefish and stripers. After Bill died, Sally lived for twenty more years hosting family and friends in the beautiful setting of her home on Pleasant Bay. She loved watching the birds and wildlife in the cove. She led an active life; volunteering at the Chatham Library and playing paddle tennis and golf right through into her eighties. She was even senior club champ at Eastward Ho. Sally will be dearly missed but we take great comfort in knowing that she lived the life she wanted.
Sally is survived by her sister, Merrilyn Delano Marsh of Wellesley, her son, George Hotchkiss Wightman and wife, Jennifer H. of Boxford, MA, her daughter, Baysie Wightman and husband, Cleveland Cogswell of Newton, MA, and her grandchildren Brendan Wightman, Alex Wightman, Elizabeth Wightman and step-grandchildren James Cogswell and Joshua Cogswell.
A memorial service will be held at Nickerson Funeral Home 87 Crowell Rd., Chatham MA 02633 on Sat. Mar. 16th at 2:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the www.americancancerfund.org
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