PADUCAH, KY—Sarah Roush, 58, of Paducah, died at home on Sunday, July 18, 2010, after living with cancer for many years.
She was born on August 4, 1951, in Cincinnati, OH to Howell and Easter Faye Vincent. She was an extremely talented and prolific full time artist, and a devout supporter of all those who shared her intense drive to make art.
In 1987, Sarah made Paducah her home when she married Dr. James Roush and began a new and productive chapter in her life and career. The following year they purchased 126 South Second Street and her vision lead her to open Two Street Studio; beginning a lifetime commitment to improving and investing in the downtown well before it was a popular cause. She was instrumental in securing a viable South Second Street, helping it become the successful destination it is today. Sarah then extended her passion for the restoration and success of downtown onto Broadway, when in 1995, she purchased and renovated the 409 Weille building. She eventually added 413 Broadway to her work and cause.
Sarah is survived by three children, Emily Feinberg of St. Louis, MO, Laurel Black of Paducah, KY, and Ted Roush, of Paducah, KY., as well as her two grandchildren Manley Feinberg III, 9 and Elizabeth Feinberg, 8 of St. Louis, MO.
She also leaves siblings Elizabeth S. Early, Calvernia R. Vincent, Halena F. Cline, Maryland R. Smith, and Charles McCrander, as well as her partner, George Fletcher.
Sarah’s love and passion for life will live on forever through her many loved ones in her extended family and friends around the world.
The family urges friends to attend a celebration of her life at 126 S. Second Street this Saturday evening, July 24th from 6pm until 10pm. Donations can be sent to “The Paducah School of Art, In Memory of Sarah Roush, 409 Broadway, Paducah, KY. 42001”. Condolences can be expressed online below.
We know Sarah through her delightful and devoted sister Halena. The description of her life work is an inspiration, and makes us mindful of the work we can carry on in her memory. May you all find comfort and solace in her memory, because she will remain with you always. – Jan and Gerald Checco, Cincinnati
My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sarah.
To Emily, Lizzy, Manley and Manley and all the family and friends of Sarah – my heart is with you at this time. Emily – may your mom live forever in your heart. May her art be the window through which you see her.
SARAH ROUSH – such a wonderful spirit and a prolific accomplished artist….. the beauty in her art is the perfect legacy….and the walls of downtown Paducah will let us remember her long into the future.
I will miss her being in the world, she helped to make it a better place. Thank you again and again, Sara.
Thank you for your dedication, friendship and unconditional support of all my passions in life with the sincere love and devotion that only a mother can provide.
Most importantly, thank you for Emily- my love and companion, and for our children who you loved so dearly and were always the perfect Grandmother to.
Your life’s impact is so far reaching- affecting so many people so deeply. Your boundless energy and visionary perspective brought so many of your dreams to reality due to your bold willingness to just go for it- and it is this very spirit of yours that will continue to inspire so many like myself to be true to yourself, and live for your dreams.
Thank you Sarah- we miss your physical presence so, and long for the comfort of your spirit in our lives everyday.
-Manley
Words will not touch the loss the family is feeling at this time. However know that Sarah is pain free in the hands of the of the most loving hands she could ever be with.
I was blessed to meet Sarah and George while working at PSA and she always had a beautiful smile on her face each time I would see her.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family and George.
-Kim
Oh… I am filled with sadness and regret that I did not get to say good-bye. I saw the article on IList this morning. I am so honored to have known Sarah. Paducah will not be the same without her! I wrote an article in my blog as a tribute:
http://fiberfocus.blogspot.com/2010/07/paducah-loses-pioneer-artist-sarah.html
My sympathies to George, the family, and all of you who also loved her. Go in peace, Sarah!
Sarah was more than a friend, she taught me how to BE an artist. How not to be defensive about the the path I’ve chosen. How to be true to my own intuition without apology or compromise. How to be firm in my commitment. She was one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.
Sarah gave me hope and inspiration both in her life as well as in her courage in the face of death and I will miss her until the day I too shall pass.
Craig
I did not know Sarah, but I think when a gifted soul passes, we all lose something. To her family, I cannon know your grief, but I share your pain at her passing.
My thoughts and prayers are with you even though I am far away. I remember seeing her for the first time the day she was born and always cherish that memory.
-Charles
Sarah was truly a caring person who had a real empathy for others who were battling illness and cancer. With all her accomplishments and her amazing art, that’s what I’ll remember most about her. My condolences to all her family and friends.
I’ve been a friend of Emily, Manley, Lizzy and little Manley for a few years now but never really got to know Sarah or experience her art.
I’ve been pouring over the photos here on her site and I’m thoroughly inspired by her work! As a ‘wannabe’ artist, I am always seeking new sources of inspiration and I’ve definitely found one in Sarah!
I wish I knew her. I will continue to try to know her through the beautiful art she’s created and through my friendship with Emily, Manley and her grandchildren. I want to thank her for sharing her vision of life.
She will be missed.
Sarah never met a stranger. From the first time I met her she has always made me feel welcomed. You wanted to be in her presence. She shared her passion for life and art with everyone around her. Sarah’s smile was warm and nurturing It reflected the beauty of her soul. I will miss her and will never forget her.
Sarah and I have been friends for over 20 years but these last few years I rarely saw her except at Art Shows. However, very recently we ran into each other at a large airport in another city where we both had lay-overs. What a timely meeting and wonderful time we shared as she told me she hadn’t much time left! We spoke about old times and funny happenings we shared, and had some laughs. Then the conversation took on a serious turn as we discussed different philosophers, God, the Bible and life and how it always has to end. I am so thankful we had that time together to say good-bye! Sarah was special to me and I am so happy to have some of her works to remember her by! We will miss you friend!
Rose Ann and her entourage!
Sarah was a good friend for over a decade. My condolences to her family. I will always cherish the 2 paintings that she gave me because my office in the bank was, in her words, “too boring”
– she had a great sense of humor.
She was one of a kind and I will miss her greatly. It is hard to believe that someone who was so full of life is gone.
From my family to yours, our deepest sympathy. We are blessed to have known Sarah (from a distance), appreciate her work and most of all, we are forever indebted for the time, love, break-ups and make-ups and years of friendship she enjoyed with our sister. The void will be deep and wide.
Love,
Kim, Cindi & Hanah Alderdice
Linda Alderdice
Lisa Alderdice & Roy Smith
Thinking of you’ll. Sarah so talented and know will be sadly missed. Take care.
Mandy Nimmo
My deepest sympathy to George, Sarah’s beloved children and the rest of her dear family and friends.
Sarah was an amazing force of life, generous, full of energy and ever determined. Her work powerful and prolific, it resonated with so many. I haven’t seen Sarah for quite some time but think of her often. She will be sorely missed and always remembered in the countless lives she touched. I fondly remember her opening at Yeiser. She splurged on this fabulous outfit and absolutley glowed, exuberant, she looked amazing. That is the Sarah I will always carry with me.
I did not have the pleasure of meeting Sarah, but in a way I knew her, through her family. I have known Em and Manley for some time now, and have met Laurel and Ted. You can tell a lot about people through their manners and mannerisms. This in turn will tell you about their upbringing. Sarah ws a good and creative soul, and it shows in those she leaves behind. Her body of work consists of more than just physical art. Sincerest condolences from the Anglin family.
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thanks!
My heartfelt sympathy to her sister Marilyn and all the family. Sarah was a joy to meet at Marilyn’s home in Colorado…an inspiration! Today is a glorious one as I feel her spirit in the pine forest and the view of the mountains…the Garden of the Gods is exceptionally clear on this cool, clear summer day. God Bless.
My life changed when I met Sarah Roush. Your life probably did too, if you were lucky enough to have met her.
Her energy was positive and undeniable. If Sarah Roush was around, things were sure to happen– something would be created, attitudes would be challenged, conventions questioned, ideas formed, and plots hatched. Generally, dealing with Sarah, it was best to have no expectations except to be prepared for potential chaos. Engaging, exciting, beautiful chaos. It was with that spirit that she moved through her own world, and with that spirit she touched the lives of others around her. I consider myself fortunate to have known Sarah and to know some of those who have been close to her. Her spirit lives on in her children, and their children. Her friends and the art community will continue to be enriched and inspired by her long into the future.
I’m grateful that Allison, Violet and Miles were finally able to meet Sarah a few months ago. We send our condolences to Sarah’s family. Along with them, and the rest of her friends, we will miss her greatly.
Steve Higdon, Allison Schmidt, Violet & Miles
Sarah Roush was a beautiful, intelligent, talented woman.
She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.
I am pleased that I had at least a little time to spend with her.
My condolences to all who knew and loved her–especially to her sisters, her children and grandchildren, and to George.
I am proud to count Sarah among my wonderful first cousins.
Patricia Vincent McNulty
I worked as Sarah’s assistant for over 5 years. Sarah believed in work. She believed in applying your mind to your task at the highest level of excellence that you can achieve. Her body of work shows that she lived by her beliefs, and thus, was an example to all of us by doing.
I was privileged to be able to work and hang out with Sarah on a regular basis. I learned so much, just being around when she accomplished some of her most important work – from the creation series to her large ceramic panels to her digital photography collages to her books of watercolors to the creation of the Wastelanders to the beginning of the art school in her building. I’m so lucky to have been around that great energy of accomplishment that she never let out of her sight and demanded, always in a sweet way, from everyone she worked with. There were experiences I had which will never be duplicated and will be with me the rest of my life.
She overcame pain and the mental weight associated with her health problems and stayed positive. She didn’t complain, and still painted and worked on her collages daily. Her teamwork with her digital photography teacher Wayne Bates is historic in the work that it produced. The mosaic painting on the outside west wall of the 409 she created with her beloved sister Halena is a priceless piece of art. Her ceramic sculptures are unique and breathtaking. She left us too soon, because there was still so much to learn from her. But she didn’t say goodbye, she just went on ahead. I will miss her.
Just heard about Sarah’s departure and just wanted to say how much she will be missed. She made her mark on Paducah and on the lives of everyone she encountered including me. I met her during one of her many visits to city hall when she was doing all that storefront work and rental rehab upstairs. She was a breath of fresh air with the lightness of an angel. She told me all about her kids and how much she loved them and of her life. We had just a short piece of time together and I always longed for more. Her work was amazing! She suggested art therapy exercises for me since a nun gave me a D in Art in first grade and I was personally afraid of trying my hand at anything considered ART. I loved her and miss her. My condolences to George such a wonderful and loving partner and to all her kids for their major loss. Peace my sister, you are truly free at last.
Dear Emily and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother was a strong, determined and talented woman. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Rest in peace, Sarah.
Fondly,
Christy
Today, Aug. 4, is Sarah’s birthday. I just wanted to mention it. It is a special day for me because it was on her birthday maybe 4 years ago that her and I did a 2 person art exhibition, which Sarah named “Intelligent Design,” on the 2nd floor of the 409 Broadway in what is now the 2nd floor of the Paducah School of art.
The floor had been empty since Bob Gresham and associates architects had left there several years before. The floor is lovely – with the curved scarlet wall, the gallery space along Broadway with its fine wood floor and Sarah’s huge hand made metal sculpture, and the large room at the far end.
I had been working for Sarah as her assistant for the better part of a year, I believe. Sarah had been working on an incredible series of larger paintings called “The Creation Series.” There was a painting for every day of the creation per the story in Genesis. She wanted to show them and wanted a partner in crime to help her fill the space.
At first, I didn’t think I could do it. I mean, I knew I had the work, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to put them up with Sarah’s. It was kind of intimidating. She wanted to do it on her birthday and make it a birthday party. Sarah persuasively but graciously talked me into it. She always was very encouraging.
We did a nice card which I did on the computer using an image from one of her paintings. Constance Alexander wrote us a press release. Sarah got some catering and wine, and I started hauling work to town. I had a number of pieces that were framed nicely, thanks to Kristi and Nancy and Gallery 600. Carol’s Frame shop was operating on the first floor of the 409, and Sarah was having Carol frame up her pieces. We also put up this awesome folding wall that Sarah had made in the middle of the front gallery space and I brought dozens of pieces in that weren’t framed or matted and just pinned them to that wall. It was a lot of fun.
Sarah displayed the entire Creation Series – the only time it has ever been displayed like that. Her and I filled that whole floor easily, it turned out. It did look good, even if I do say so myself.
The Rhythm Women and Groove Daddies (which I’m a member) played, and Sarah’s son-in-law Manley sat in with us and also played. We had over 150 people, and a great time.
After that show, Sarah was really excited, and so was I. She wanted to do another, and we talked about having more of our long time Paducah artists show with us. That evolved into the Wastelanders. That first Wastelander show was held in the same spot, several months after “Intelligent Design.”
That first Wastelander show turned out to be one of the biggest visual art events in Paducah that I’ve ever experienced. We all pitched in with our private collections of Paducah region artists, past to present, and showed that not only does Paducah have good artists that have been around town for a long time, but that there has been a continuation of good art, sometimes a bit in the shadows, but there nonetheless, for many many decades. More than 400 people filled the 2nd floor of the 409 that night, and were blown away by what we had done. Since that time, the Wastelanders has always drawn good support from the community, and we now have a tradition of showing on New Year’s Eve and on the Summer Solstice.
Happy birthday Sarah. Thanks for everything! I’ll always remember your birthday for the rest of the my life.
It has taken me so long to write, and I feel right now so blessed to know that I am doing so on Sarah’s birthday. Sarah is with me and my family every day in her art on our walls. We shared a trip to Venice with her and Halena and Ted, meeting them by happenstance in an airport in London in 2001; Sarah and Ted visited us in Gloucester, Massachusetts. We have a lovely photo of Sarah on the rocks that we already treasure. While we walked and talked through piazzas, or cooked and talked in the Carriage House in Gloucester, it was clear that Sarah’s illness did not rule her life. Her love for her children and her sister and her drive to create her art and to connect with other artists and her community were the driving forces in her life. We are so grateful for the time we were able to spend with her over these past 9 years, and our hearts go out to her family, especially Ted and Laurel and Halena. What a wonderful life — Sarah, we will miss you, and we thank you for being part of our lives.