Sandra Sparrow Wilkinson
Sandra Sparrow Wilkinson, 76, a teacher, principal, and artist left us peacefully on April 22, 2017. Sandy was a beloved presence in Swarthmore, earning the respect of thousands of students, parents, and colleagues during her 28 years in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District.
Born in Hamilton, Ohio in 1940 to Edna and Jerome Martin Lewis, Sr., Sandy attended St. Simons Elementary School and the selective Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education from the University of Cincinnati and won the Cincinnati Teacher of the Year Award after her second year of teaching. She moved to Swarthmore in 1969 with her husband, Eugene Sparrow and son Geno. In 1971, Sandy became a teacher in the Swarthmore School District where she taught elementary school for 15 years.
Shorty after earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration in 1985, the school district tapped Sandy for the position of principal of the Swarthmore-Rutledge Elementary School (SRS). The influence of Sandy’s work persists today through projects such as an African dance artist-in-residence program, now in its 25th year. In 1992, Swarthmore-Rutledge Elementary School was designated a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. In 1997, Swarthmore College awarded Sandy a Doctorate of Humane Letters for her deep commitment and many contributions to the education of children in the local community.
Sandy retired from the school district in 1999 and moved to Maine. In addition to working on her own artistic endeavors, Sandy continued to work with, and for, children, serving as adjunct professor of education at the University of Maine, Machias, and starting Alumni Supporting Kids (ASK) to support after school program participation for all students in Wallingford-Swarthmore schools.
Sandy married Dr. Harold Wilkinson in 2010 and returned to Swarthmore. Sandy is survived by her husband, Dr. Harold Wilkinson, her son, Geno Sparrow, and her granddaughter, Malika Matisse Sparrow, her brother, Jerome Lewis, Jr., and countless friends, students, and colleagues.
A Celebration of Sandy’s Life will be held on Sunday, May 7th at 2 P.M. at the Swarthmore Friends Meetinghouse, 12 Whittier Place, on the Swarthmore College campus in Swarthmore, Pa. 19081.
Sandy started Alumni Supporting Kids in 2007 as a way of raising money from Wallingford-Swarthmore School District alumni to support after school program participation for students in the district who would not be able to afford these opportunities. Donations in Sandy’s memory can be sent to Alumni and Friends Supporting Kids, Foundation for Wallingford-Swarthmore Schools, P.O. Box 288, Wallingford, Pa. 19086 or to Jefferson Hospital in tribute to Drs. James Evans and Marlind Stiles at Jefferson.
Please make checks payable to “Jefferson” and mail to: Office of Institutional Advancement, 130 S. 9th Street, Suite 1700, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107 or donate online at Giving.Jefferson. edu. Condolences may be sent to griffithfuneralchapel@verizon.net
Arrangements are by the Griffith Funeral Chapel in Norwood, Pa. www. griffithfuneralchapel.com