Sally Cushman Lewis passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, October 25, 2026, at the age of 98, in Framingham, Massachusetts. She lived independently until the age of 93, and then lived with and was lovingly cared for by her daughter, Nancy Colbeth. She spent her final days and hours surrounded by family, with her beloved dog, Teddy, by her side.

Born to Esther Lanman Cushman and Robert Adams Cushman, Sally was an only child but was surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She grew up in the Harvard Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts, taking full advantage of the intellectual and cultural opportunities afforded by growing up in the shadow of Harvard University. Her childhood included frequent family vacations on Mount Desert Island in Maine, where she developed an early appreciation for the natural beauty of the coast—a love that would remain with her throughout her life.

Her secondary education was at the Brimmer and May School in Massachusetts and the Westtown School, a Quaker, coeducational boarding school in Pennsylvania. She later wrote for her 40th reunion: “I sometimes wonder how just two years at Westtown could have meant so much to me. I was a city girl who loved the country so living in the Pennsylvania countryside was heaven.” She also said, “I came away with a value system that has lasted a lifetime.”

A graduate of Radcliffe/Harvard College, where she majored in social psychology and anthropology, she went on to earn a master's degree in special education and research methodology from Boston University in 1975. She worked as a researcher at Boston University's School of Education, contributing to a major longitudinal study of disability, employment, and social attitudes. She also taught children with emotional and behavioral challenges, reflecting her interest in education and helping others.

Sally later developed a second career in the rapidly evolving field of computer technology. After training in software and technical writing, she worked on a lung cancer research project at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute before joining the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT in 1984. There, she helped scientists and researchers navigate the emerging world of computers, providing technical support, training, and systems administration as the institute grew. Her career reflected a remarkable ability to adapt, an analytical mind, and a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.

Together with her husband of nineteen years, Andy Lewis, Sally raised her children in Conantum, a planned community in Concord, Massachusetts, originally marketed to and populated largely by professors at MIT and Harvard. Surrounded by woods and natural beauty, Conantum provided an ideal setting for Sally to foster a love of the outdoors in her children, giving them opportunities to explore and enjoy nature. She lived there for 61 years and was an active member of the community's Garden Club for more than half a century. She also participated in a sewing group, forming enduring and supportive friendships and contributing enthusiastically to community activities.

Sally shared her home, her life, and many adventures for twenty years with her partner, Stefan Harasymiw, until his passing in 2010. She recalled that they once had a “spur of the moment trip” when they just got in the car and drove to Mexico, especially enjoying the Mayan ruins.

Sally loved the outdoors and spent much of her life exploring the mountains, forests, lakes, and rivers of the Northeast. She was a longtime member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, spending summers canoeing New England's waterways and winters cross-country skiing from the huts and camps of the White Mountain National Forest. She climbed all but two peaks on the Appalachian Mountain Club's New England 4,000-footer list. She shared many of these adventures with her children. She was also an avid downhill skier from an early age and took her children on many ski trips.

One of Sally's greatest joys was her cottage on Toothacher Cove on Swan's Island, Maine. She spent many summers with family and friends, sailing and kayaking the coastal waters—even venturing out in her kayak with her small dog at the age of 89—and enjoying hikes on both Swan's Island and nearby Mount Desert Island. The cottage and land held a special place in her heart. Sally regarded herself not merely as an owner but as a steward of this beautiful landscape. She placed a portion of the property under a conservation easement and welcomed island residents to enjoy the land.

She was a passionate environmental advocate who believed deeply in the importance of protecting wild places, not only for her own enjoyment but for future generations. She worked to protect Walden Woods in Concord and Adams Woods in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and supported organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund.

Sally was guided by a deep commitment to social justice. Despite her demanding studies, she joined two fellow Radcliffe/Harvard students in protesting outside Club 100 in Cambridge because they refused to admit Black patrons. This foreshadowed a lifetime of advocacy and civic engagement. Just a week and a half before her death, she completed her mail-in ballot for the upcoming election.

Sally's warmth, authenticity, humor, and love of storytelling endeared her to family and friends across generations. One longtime friend remembered her as someone who was “always herself, hiding nothing and being present at all times,” consistently ready for new experiences and cheerful even while doing the most mundane tasks.

Sally is survived by her six children: Daniel Lewis and his wife, Lesle; Susanna Lewis and her partner, Geoffrey Gardner; Nancy Colbeth; Elizabeth Lewis and her husband, Tom Rogers; Andrea Lewis and her wife, Jill Borrelli; and David Lewis and his wife, Maggie.

She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Hana, Paul, Amber, Alison, Andrea, Sarah, Jasper, Eliza, Sheridan, and Meredith.

Her eleven great-grandchildren are Taylor, Archer, Makayla, Adalyn, London, Mackenna, Layla, Alexander, Jonathan, Kaitlyn, and Aren.

She is also survived by her cousins Anne Cushman, Katharine Fischer, and Nancy Carrel, as well as her longtime friend, Jane Nosbisch.

Sally leaves behind a legacy of love for family, respect for nature, commitment to fairness, and an enduring spirit of curiosity and adventure. As one cousin so fittingly described her, Sally was “the glue holding generations together.” Through her stories, her warmth, humor, and her genuine interest in the lives of others, she connected generations of her family, creating bonds and memories that will endure long after her passing.

A service celebrating Sally's life will be held in the spring of 2027 at First Parish in Concord, Massachusetts. The date and time will be posted on the funeral home's website once arrangements are finalized. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sally's memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.