1981

Constituents Deceased list

Sarah M. Power J.D. ’81 was born on March 10, 1956, to Ann McCabe and Thomas Charles Power II, the fifth of six children. She attended Bishop Gilmore Catholic School and Helena, Montana, public schools, graduating from Helena High School in 1974. Sarah attended Gonzaga University for two years, then transferred to Merrimack College in Andover, Massachusetts, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1978. She went on to graduate from SCU Law. Sarah started practicing law at the Montana Attorney General’s Office, where she argued before the Montana Supreme Court under the student practice rule before even passing the state bar. In 1983, she settled in at Gough, Shanahan, Johnson & Waterman, where she practiced law until her retirement. Sarah was a defense specialist who served as president of the Montana Defense Trial Lawyers. She knew her way around a courtroom and, for a time, had the distinction of having won the largest plaintiff verdict in Lewis & Clark County. Sarah was also a member of the First Judicial District and American Bar Associations and the State Bar of Montana. In addition to her legal practice, Sarah made significant contributions to the Helena community with her involvement in Big Brothers and Sisters of Montana as a participant and board member. She served two terms as a member of the Carroll College Board of Trustees. She was a lifelong member of St. Helena Cathedral. Sarah was a natural athlete from an early age, playing softball, enjoying downhill skiing, and in high school playing four years on the basketball team while excelling in the field events of shotput and discus. She went on to play basketball in college, first at Gonzaga and then at Merrimack. After college she took up golf and continued to play recreational softball for many years with her softball team of lifelong friends, winning the state championship in 1995. Sarah was a quick wit, intelligent, and loved words and language. She was generous with her time, compassionate, and had many loyal friends. Her favorite gifts were books as she was a voracious reader. She enjoyed summers at the family cabin on Placid Lake and golfing trips with friends. Sarah adopted Mack, the lanky Labrador who she loved and cared for with all her heart. Her Irish roots were a source of pride along with being a native Montanan. She was the family historian, with her amazing memory and love of Montana history. She enjoyed many trips and traveled with family and friends to Ireland, Great Britain, Japan, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia. Sarah died unexpectedly at her Helena home on Dec. 21, 2018. She was age 62 years old.

16 Feb 2019