News Observer, Raleigh, NC, September 7, 2003.
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Mrs. Sayre was born July 4, 1921 in a camp at Little Moose Lake in the Adirondack League Club with the nearest town being Old Forge, NY. She died September 6, 2003 at age 82, of cancer, at her daughter's home in Durham, NC. Prior to last nine months of life, she lived in Vineyard Haven, MA. Nee Harriet Taft Hart, she was a daughter of Admiral and Mrs. Thomas C. Hart, granddaughter of Admiral and Mrs. Willard H. Brownson. Mrs. Sayre was graduated from Vassar College with a degree in History in 1944. She lived with her family in China for the year 1939 while her father commanded the Asiatic Fleet. She worked for the OSS (Washington, D.C.) during WWII, prior to her marriage and she was involved in research regarding the feasibility of a Manchurian army. She was married for 57 years to Rev. Francis B. Sayre, retired Dean of Washington National Cathedral. She lived in Washington for the duration of her husband's career at the Cathedral, and a few years post-retirement, between 1952 and 1980. A woman of intelligence, deep wisdom and extraordinary grace, Mrs. Sayre took her role of furthering the growth and mission of the National Cathedral, in her own quiet way, very seriously. She supported the Civil Rights movement, traveled with her husband to oversee refugee work, and provided a gracious and interesting dinner table for all of the Cathedral's guests, from Martin Luther King, Jr., to the Queen of England, to Dave Brubeck. An accomplished hostess: whether breakfast at the Tidal Basin under the blooming cherry tree before school, picnics while fishing or on the beach at sunset, elegant sit-down dinners for the leading lights of the land, or the Cathedaral's merry-go-round slowly revolving in the back yard for her daughter's debutante party. Active volunteer with the YWCA for two decades, she was also a Board member of the D.C. branch (later the YWCA of the National Capitol Area) in the late 60's and early 70's. She especially worked with the YWCA International Fair, a yearly event involving hundreds of people, community leaders and the diplomatic corps. This was for many years coupled with a YWCA ceremony at Washington Cathedral where Y-Teens from all over the USA and young women from the embassies representing countries where the YWCA was at work came in procession to offer the funds they had raised for the YW work in those countries. Harriet also worked with her mother-in-law (Mrs. Francis B. Sayre, Sr.) towards the gift of one of the stained-glass windows in the Cathedral, representing the world work of the YWCA. This was rededicated in 1994 for the World YWCA Centenary. She also rode the bus downtown for several years to volunteer at the City Hall Complaint Center, where she served as an ombudsman to cut through bureaucratic tangles to callers with troubles. She volunteered as a guide at the National Cathedral, and at an ecumenical home for unwed mothers (in D.C.). After retirement to Massachusetts, she was active in Martha's Vineyard Community Services, an umbrella organization for social service agencies serving the Island (early childhood, visiting nurses, counseling, elder services, women's services, substance abuse and education, help for person with disabilities). Mrs. Sayre was a member of the Board of Directors for five years. She chaired the Board for two years, shepherding the organization through fiscal crises brought on by funding cutbacks under the Reagan administration. She co-founded the Possible Dreams Auction, and served as Auction Committee chair from 1979-1982, which has raised nearly $4 million for Community Services in the 25 years of its existence. After retiring from the Board, she took the agency's languishing Thrift Shop, and turned it into a vibrant volunteer-run store that serves the community and raises significant funds for MVCS coffers. Survivors: her husband, of Vineyard Haven, MA; four children, Jessie Sayre Maeck of Lexington, MA, Thomas Hart Sayre of Raleigh, NC, Harriet Sayre-McCord of Durham, NC and F. Nevin Sayre of Falmouth, MA, all married; and eight grandchildren (two each); two sisters, Caroline Hart (Mrs Dana R.) Bergh of Portola Valley, California, and Isabella Hart (Mrs. LaVerne) Baldwin of Taconic, CT, both widowed. Predeceased by two brothers, Roswell Hart, of Sharon, CT and Thomas Hart, USNAVY. Burial of cremated remains will be in the Cathedral. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Martha's Vineyard Community Services in her memory, at the following address: Martha's Vineyard Community Services c/o The Development Office, 111 Edgartown Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Arrangements by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas, Raleigh.