Saradonna Lightner Harmen Harkins

1/26/1926 - 2/26/2023 Carmel Valley

Born outside of Seattle, Washington, Sara’s first home was on a dairy farm won by her father in a poker game, a fitting start to a colorful life. The Lightner family settled in Winnetka, Illinois, where Sara spent her formative years, graduating from the celebrated New Trier High School and earning a bachelor’s degree from The National College of Education in Evanston. Wanderlust and a teaching position at Del Monte School led Sara to pursue a move to Monterey, California, where she met and eventually married James Harkins, a graduate student at The University of California at Berkeley. James and Sara shared a love of travel, the arts (especially classical music, opera, and ballet), and their two daughters, Elizabeth (Betsi) and Catherine (Cassie). Sara dedicated her professional career to Carmel Unified School District, exclusively as a kindergarten teacher, at River, Woods, and Tularcitos schools, where she was beloved universally by her students and worked passionately to establish a teacher’s union. Sara lived by a “think globally, act locally” philosophy, informing her worldview with extensive travel across every continent and engaging at home through devoted patronage of the arts and artists, political activism, and the development of deep human connections. Her poise and erudite manner rendered her unforgettable, much like her penchant for bold jewelry and clothing. Sara is survived by her daughters, Betsi (Ray) Sumida and Cassie (Karl) Harkins; her granddaughters Erin (Simon) Phillips and Carli (Jack) Harman; four great-grandchildren, Alec & Ella Phillips, John & Noah Harman, and legions of friends who were like family. Her family intends to hold a Celebration of Life this Spring. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Sara’s memory to Big Sur Land Trust, Glide Memorial Church, Food Bank For Monterey County, Carmel Bach Festival, or a charity of the donor’s choice.