Sheila Burnell Sawyer passed in the loving arms of her family on August 8, 2017 after a long, valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Sheila was born in Torrington, Connecticut on March 11, 1931.
She graduated as valedictorian and head cheerleader at Torrington High School in 1948.  In 1952, while attending Connecticut College with a triple major in music, math and political science, she met the recent U.S. Naval Academy graduate Lieutenant William "Pete" Sawyer at the New London Naval Base. They were married and moved to Miami where they lived happily together for 60 years.
Sheila is predeceased by her cherished husband Pete and survived by her four children Carlene (David), Douglas (Liane), Jeffrey, and William Jr., along with her grandchildren Bridget Sawyer-Revels and Matthew Sawyer. 

Throughout her life, Sheila had a passion for teaching all grade levels of Math and Science to children and young adults. For over 15 years she was an esteemed math teacher at Christopher Columbus High School where she practiced her professional calling in a community of faith and love of education of tomorrow's leaders.  After retirement from teaching, Sheila and Pete spent their time between Coral Gables, Florida and her beloved family home at Carey Point on Highland Lake in Connecticut.

Funeral services for Sheila Sawyer will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, August 18th at Saint Augustine's Catholic Church located across from the University of Miami at 1400 Miller Road, Coral Gables, FL 33146. Following the funeral service, a celebration of Sheila’s life will be held in Saint Augustine’s Reception Hall from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Christopher Columbus High School Development, 3000 SW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33165.

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