In Memoriam
Sally Pritchard
by Tiffany Kirk, Alumni and Donor Relations Manager
Contributions by Benjamin Ryan ’97
“My life is better because Sally Pritchard has been part of it.” – Rebecca Clark Carey ’84
Contributions by Benjamin Ryan ’97
“My life is better because Sally Pritchard has been part of it.” – Rebecca Clark Carey ’84
A beloved teacher at The Bush School for thirty years, Sally Rae Beil Pritchard passed on October 8, 2022, following a stroke. Former Head of School Les Larsen first hired Sally in 1972 to teach Kindergarten at Bush. Over the years, Sally’s role grew to teach Kindergarten in the mornings, lead Middle School drama in the afternoons, and direct plays after school. In a typical year, she would cast and direct the fall Upper School play, the winter Sixth Grade Shakespeare play, and the spring Eighth Grade play. She was ultimately named drama department head.
Sally was a creative force and a consistent voice for student agency. Blessed with a kind and winsome personality, she was also meticulous and authoritative, qualities she leveraged to stage some sixty-five successful theatrical productions. These included epic renderings of Bye-Bye Birdie, Anything Goes, Fiddler on the Roof, Damn Yankees, South Pacific, Oliver!, and She Loves Me. Regardless of the venue (Phelps Gym, Cunningham House, the Commons, or Benaroya) or the cast size (sometimes as large as eighty students), each production left young people transformed and brought the Bush community together.
In March 2022, Sally made her last visit to the Bush campus, reconnecting with students and alums during an Alumni Night at the Theater event. After also attending the production of A Murder Is Announced, Upper School Drama Teacher Hilary (Keyes) Moore ’10 invited Sally on stage and presented her with flowers, sharing with Sally how deeply she had impacted generations of students at Bush.
Ben Ryan ’97 and his father renamed their family’s endowment at The Bush School to honor Sally Pritchard. Once named after Ben’s mother, Sally Ryan, who was a teacher at Bush and a close friend to Sally Pritchard. The endowment is now called the Sally Ryan and Sally Pritchard Endowment for Drama.
In light of Sally’s passing, family, friends, colleagues, and former students gathered in November to pay their respects during a memorial service in Seattle. Those who spoke always mentioned her love for Bush and the students here, a beautiful testimony to the reciprocal joy and passion she inspired in her students. Gifts in Sally Pritchard’s honor can be made to the Sally Ryan and Sally Pritchard Endowment for Drama at www.bush.edu/give-now.
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 715 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.
3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status.