Obituary of Catherine P. Sagan

Catherine P. Sagan, Ph.D., 83, of Pound Ridge, New York, died Friday, September 9, 2022, at Northern Westchester Hospital from LGL leukemia.

Catherine was born on March 13, 1939, at St. Clare’s Hospital in Manhattan, New York, to Philip and Catherine Meehan, both Irish immigrants. 

Catherine was a 1960 magna cum laude graduate of the College of Mount Saint Vincent, receiving her B.A. in English, with a minor in Philosophy.  Catherine received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1967 and 1977, respectively, and her PD in Administration and Supervision in 1981, all from Fordham University.

Catherine spent her entire professional career in the field of teaching, beginning her early career as a middle school teacher in the English Department of JHS 44 in the Bronx, New York, and continuing as a high school teacher in the English Departments of Commerce High School in Yonkers, New York, and of Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York.  Catherine then went on to serve as Director of Pace University’s College Extension Center in Brewster, New York, and then as an Adjunct Professor in Philosophy/Contemporary Literature at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and in the Graduate School of Education at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York.  Catherine spent the last nearly 20 years of her career as Chairperson of the English Department of North Salem High School in North Salem, New York.  Catherine finished her professional career as an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, where she taught graduate and undergraduate courses in methods of teaching and educational psychology. 

Catherine was the recipient of numerous honors and awards in her field, including: the NYSUT State Committee: ELA Standards: K-12, 1998-2000; Grant (North Salem Team), Reader’s Digest/Westchester Coalition/School to Careers: Senior Year O.P.T.I.O.N.S. Internship and Senior Exhibition, 1995-1996; Who’s Who: America’s Teachers, 1994, 1995 and 1998; Middle States Team, Yonkers, New York, 1991; NYS Co-Semi-Finalist (Senior Year Inclusion Project): Christa McAuliff National Fellowship, 1990; Nominee, Curriculum Innovation Award, Pi Lambda Theta (Westchester Chapter), 1989; Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence: Putnam/Westchester (SUNY, New Paltz), 1988; NYS Full Three Year Regents Fellowship for Doctoral Studies at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies at the University of Toronto, 1960 (declined); and full four year academic scholarship, College of Mount Saint Vincent, 1956.

Catherine is the beloved wife of John J. Sagan of Pound Ridge, New York, and is the loving mother of John Sagan (fiancée: Rosanna Mini) of Stamford, Connecticut, Michael (Pam) Sagan of Potomac, Maryland, and Paul Sagan (fiancée: Michelle Cunanan).

 of Los Angeles, California. Catherine is the loving sister of John, Philip and Dennis Meehan and the devoted grandmother of Maggie, Emily and Kaitlin Sagan and Ellie and Annabel Sagan.  Catherine is also survived by numerous other family members and dear friends and colleagues.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 7 Pound Ridge Road, Bedford, New York 10506, tel.:  (914) 234-3344.

Interment will be private

Memorial contributions may be made either to: the University of Virginia Cancer Center, online at getinvolved.uvahealth.org, by clicking the “Donate Now” button and selecting the “Dr. Thomas Loughran-Cancer Research (19255)” subtab under the “What would you like your donation to support?” tab, or by mail to University of Virginia, P.O. Box 37963, Boone, Iowa 50037 (including the same gift designation on the check memo line); or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, online at www.lls.org, by mail to P.O. Box 22324, New York, New York 10087, or by phone at (888) 557-7177.