Since Turid Sato's death in the fall of 1997, many of us who loved her have talked about finding a way to keep her spirit alive and to carry on her dreams for a more peaceful world. In discussing the possibilities, it is amazing how many friends and family remembered hearing Turid tell the following story:
Once, a young boy walked along a beach where thousands of sea urchins lay stranded by the tide. As he picked up the creatures and tossed them, one at a time, back into the sea, a stranger passed by. "Isn't that a hopeless task?" he asked the boy. "After all, there are so many sea urchins here-what's the point?" The boy looked down at the spiny creature in his hand. "It could make all the difference to this one," he said, and threw it into the waves.
This story can speak to us in many ways, in light of Turid's all too brief life. Like the boy trying to rescue the urchins, no challenge was ever too large for Turid, whether she was trying to help Sierra Leone return to democracy, or find a way for women in a Thai village to make a living selling their hand crafts. As her son Thomas put it, "She was so ambitious to make things right, and to help people."
But we can also think of this story as a metaphor for what happened to Turid when she arrived from Norway as a young Norwegian student, searching for a school and community that would allow her to explore the issues she cared about fiercely. Like the boy who took special care over a single creature, the people who welcomed Turid to Sarah Lawrence College in the fall of 1966 demonstrated that one small gesture can make a significant difference to an individual.
In the final days of her life, Turid spoke with energy and enthusiasm about the connections she was making between her study of mythology at Sarah Lawrence, a painting in her living room, and her work in developing countries. Turid was devoted to Sarah Lawrence and its educational philosophy. For this reason, it seems fitting and natural to establish the Anne Turid Sato Scholarship at Sarah Lawrence. We believe this would honor Turid's commitment to social justice and her passion for issues affecting women around the world. Because of the way she died, it seems particularly important to carry on her belief in the peaceful resolution of conflicts, both at home and abroad, and to make certain that her dream-of a world where we celebrate a diversity of ideas and culture-lives on after her death.
The Anne Turid Sato Scholarship would give priority to women, especially those applying to Sarah Lawrence from overseas. We need to raise a minimum initial sum of $25,000 in order to create a scholarship in her name. When the fund reaches $100,000 in gifts or pledges, the College will be able to award a "Anne Turid Sato Scholar" each year. Until then, our fund will support the general scholarship needs of the College, in Turid's name.
Friends and family who wish to participate can either give a lump sum, at the beginning, or pledge an amount which could be donated over a five year period. If you are interested in participating-with gifts of any size-we hope you will fill out the attached pledge form. Also, if you think of additional friends who might like to hear about this effort, I hope you will let us know. Turid was connected, quite literally, to people in every corner of the globe, and we don't want to leave anyone out.
We hope that this fund will provide all of us with a way to heal our loss as well as affirm our commitment to Turid's spirit, ideals, humor, and boundless energy. Thank you, in advance, for your participation and support. We look forward to hearing from you.
With thanks,
William E. Smith and Liza Ketchum
To reach us:
William E. Smith4920 Butterworth Pl. NW.
American University Park
Washington DC 20016
Tel: 202-364-5741Liza Ketchum
7 Arthur Terrace
Watertown,MA 02172
(617) 926-4507
Click here for a pledge form which you can print and mail directly to Sarah Lawrence
Click here to e-mail for forms or more information