Obituary of Sallie Garrasi

Schenectady - Sallie Hume Garrasi, a longtime community volunteer and the widow of former Gazette president David Hume, died Sunday morning in Cambridge after a short illness. The daughter of Harrison and Mary Wirt, she was born April 10, 1925, in Schenectady. She graduated from St. Mary's Episcopal School in Peekskill, going on to Skidmore College where she received her bachelor of arts in sociology. She earned a master's degree in American Studies from Union College in Schenectady and a master's in social work from the School of Social Welfare at the University of Albany. She pursued post-graduation work in both gerontology and the civil rights movement.Garrasi was a certified social worker, working as an aging services specialist for the New York State Office for the Aging. She was also an associate professor at Schenectady County Community College, retiring in 1989. She was one of the first women to graduate from Union College and in 1971, the first woman inducted into what was then the all-male Union College Alumni Club. She was also one of the first women elected to the vestry of St. George's Episcopal Church. She helped establish the Girls Club summer camp Brookledge, in Middle Grove, as well as Schenectady's first senior citizens meal program. She was a founding board member of the Bridge Therapeutic Center in Schenectady and in 1985, she received the organization's outstanding citizenship award. " She was a role model in the values she put on education, community service and church," said her daughter, Elizabeth Lind. Most of her hobbies involved the outdoors. "She loved skiing, tennis, gardening, swimming and canoeing," Lind said. She was predeceased by her husband David Hume, the former president of The Daily Gazette Co., who died in 1993; and her husband, Samuel Garrasi, who died in 2005. She was also predeceased by a daughter, Maryanna. She is survived by three children: David Hume, Jr. of Clifton Park; Elizabeth Lind of Schenectady and William Hume of St. Augustine, FL; three grandchildren, Teresa Lind, Andrew Lind and Kathryn Hume; four nieces and nephews, John Hume of Mariaville, Frank Gaynor of Franklin, MA and Sally Gaynor and Peter Gaynor, both of Malvern, PA and her good friend, Bruce Williams. Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Daly Funeral Home, Inc., 242 McClellan St., Schenectady, Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. George's Episcopal Church, North Ferry Street, Schenectady, with burial in Park View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. George's Episcopal Church or Girls Inc.