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Service -
Monday, August 6, 20124:00 pm505 Ocean BoulevardRye, New Hampshire
Sara Richard
Sara Richard's beautiful life came to a sudden end on August 1st, 2012, after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer. She was 48.
Sara will be remembered forever by her husband, children, mother, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, in-laws and extensive community of friends as an adventurous lover of life who saw beauty in the simplest of things — family, friendship and nature.
A highlight of Sara's youth was her participation in sports, notably running cross country as a member of the Seacoast Striders, an elite cross-country development team. Sara was part of a close knit group of young runners and a very dedicated coach, and they shared countless rich moments together. These early relationships and experiences taught her about working hard, fair play and the wonders of the human body, all of which contributed to her lovely philosophy of life.
After completing a degree in history at UNH, Sara traveled the world, spending several months in Africa while visiting a brother who was in the Peace Corps. She subsequently enjoyed trips to France, Italy, Mexico, Iceland and the Caribbean with other family members and friends, and it was through travel that her joie de vivre, world view, and her natural gift for empathy continued to grow and develop. Later, she lived in Colorado for a winter and her passion for skiing was reignited.
A strong connection to family brought her back to New Hampshire, where she met her husband-to-be and began her own family. She settled joyfully into family life with the birth of her two sons. This period in Sara's life was strongly defined by community as she took an active role in her sons' schools and extra-curricular activities. Sara developed many wonderfully close friendships, fueled in part by her love of the game of tennis and the people she met at Longfield Tennis Club and the Seacoast Indoor Tennis Club. Additionally, winters spent with good friends at The Skihaus Ski Club in Mad River Glen, Vermont, and regular attendance at UNH Wildcat hockey games expanded her many close relationships in the greater Seacoast Community.
Sara's work as a tutor for students taking the PSAT and SAT tests was very important and gratifying to her, and it brought her together with dozens of young people. She used her special abilities to connect with kids and to impart confidence, making a significant difference in many of their young lives. She attended the LIPS (Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing) program in Exeter, N.H, where she was trained in identifying and correcting learning disabilities. Sara treasured this part of her life.
Sara's greatest joy in life came from being a mother to her beloved boys.
She is survived by her husband, Dean Chase; two sons, Dylan and Damon, of Rye; by her mother in Stratham; two brothers in Damariscotta, Maine, and Valdosta, Ga.; three sisters in Brentwood, Portsmouth and Falmouth, Maine; and a huge community of friends and other loved ones.
A memorial is planned for Monday, August 6, at 4 p.m., at Odiorne Point's Seacoast Science Center in Rye. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the American Lung Association.
