Remembering Our Friend Sarah

Our friend Sarah has been a tremendous part of our lives for the last 5 years when I (Rob) met her at a dog event with her husband Denis. There was an immediate connection, and Tom and I have grown to love her and Denis so very much. Last night, we talked with Denis to learn that Sarah passed away from her battle with cancer. We're devastated. On Sunday, we went to Sarah's birthday party and she was all smiles and glowing with love, despite her deteriorating condition. Sarah never lost hope. This is a photo from Sunday of Sarah with her husband. Her smile is infectious as it has always been.

Less than 6 months ago, Sarah went to the doctor to check out a stomach ache, and learned she had stage 4 cancer, although she was asymptomatic. It was a shock, but she never gave up hope. That's Sarah. She was the kindest, most loving, happy, optimistic person who always had a smile, a hug and a kiss for us. I always looked forward to her emails every week asking for SNOW, even in July Sarah LOVED Snow. Well, this winter I "gave" her 2 blizzards and record snow in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. She was ecstatic, and still wanted more. She made me laugh when it came to my forecasts and the weather.

Sarah had a tremendous love for dogs that started through Denis. It didn't take long for Sarah and Denis to become an advocate for pet rights- and when they lost their beloved dog Shadow to the bullet of a madman in Vermont, they pushed for pets to be recognized as companions in the state, not just "empty animals." We're behind that 110%. Anyone that has a dog understands that feeling. Our dogs ARE our children. The day Sarah passed, the Vermont Supreme Court issued a decision that acknowledged dogs are more than just replaceable. Sarah told the Vermont press "It's so important for people to really recognize the relationship between the families and their companion animals." Sarah and Denis have 5 dogs and a foster dog, so their house was always full of canine companionship and love.

Sarah was very excited for us when we went to Connecticut and got married last June. When we told her about a small local reception she immediately volunteered to bake gourmet cupcakes for all of the guests! For weeks we tried her various recipes, got boxes and other things together. The cupcakes were such a hit that there were only 2 left after the reception, and people still talk about them even a year later.
-We often met Sarah and Denis for dinner during the week, just to keep in touch in person. It was always something to look forward to doing.
Sarah is a tremendous person, so full of love, life, happiness, optimism and someone who has deeply touched our hearts. We miss her so much, but we know that she's now at peace with her loving dog Shadow.