Obituary: Sara (Morrill) Read
Portland, Maine – Sara (Morrill) Read, a longtime Maine resident who built a life marked by academic achievement, compassionate nursing and community service, died Friday at her home here. She was 91.
Read was born March 16, 1935, in Sarasota, Fla., while her parents were briefly living there, but she grew up in Maine. She graduated from Thornton Academy in Saco in 1953, a time her classmates recalled as a “swell girl with brains and beauty.” She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tufts University’s Jackson College in 1957, where she was selected Ivy Festival Queen in both 1956 and 1957.
It was at Tufts that she met A. James Read, whom she later married. After graduation the couple moved to California so that Jim could pursue graduate studies at Stanford University; their two children were born during that period. In 1964 the family relocated to Maryland when Jim began a career with the federal government.
In Maryland, Read returned to school to earn a nursing degree, launching a second career that reflected her dedication to helping others. Throughout those years she also volunteered for a variety of charitable causes and traveled abroad on numerous adventures.
Following her husband’s death in 1987, Read shifted her focus to her grandchildren, finding comfort and joy in their company. In 2003 she returned to Maine, settling once again in the state she loved and where many of her lifelong friendships awaited.
Read’s later years were filled with active pursuits. She regularly attended lectures, enjoyed hiking and walks along Maine’s beaches, kept up a fitness routine at the gym, and was a faithful member of the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church. An avid reader and theatergoer, she treasured the companionship of her close circle of friends, affectionately dubbed “The Fab Five,” with whom she shared countless dinners, outings and laughter.
She is survived by her son, John Read of Saco; her daughter, Janet Hamilton and husband Kerry of Barnesville, Md.; her grandson, Patrick Read and his husband Dr. Ian Chadd; her granddaughter, Stephanie Mellone and husband Thomas; and her great‑grandchildren, Maxwell and William Mellone. She was preceded in death by her three brothers, Frederick, Gerald and Ernest Morrill.
A memorial visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the Dennett, Craig and Pate Funeral Home, 365 Main St., Saco. A burial service will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.
Family members described Read as a person of intelligence, strength, warmth and curiosity, noting that her devotion to the people she loved left a lasting imprint on all who knew her. “She will be forever remembered for her intelligence, strength, warmth, curiosity, and devotion to the people she loved,” a statement from the family said.
