I met the Bates family when Sally’s oldest sister was 4 yrs old and so was I. Though I was shy I began lurking as an honorary sibling, assuring my parents “They like having me around.” True perhaps ‘cause I was 4. Sally was one of the six Bates sisters, four years younger than Sandra. They had to move 40 miles away after 4th grade, and I was sad. We visited back and forth on school vacations, saving my lonely state with a big brother gone off to college. Over the years, our age differences mattered less, and beyond Sandra and Jennifer, Susie, Sally, Jill and Janet became like peers. Susie and Sally were the older middle two. Sally was always a favorite of mine because even though I was four years older, she was kind of quiet, but was one of the 6 hilariously witty Bates girls. After college we reunited summer of ’75 with Sally and Susie living in NYC, as well as Jennifer nearby at their Dad’s , with summer jobs working in their Dad’s office. It was like all those years they welcomed me to their home. I’d visit and spend sunny days playing guitar and bonding on the roof. Sally was handing me the guitar and at night we’d all go see my Connecticut friends’ band play country music in NYC. Though Sandra was upstate we four shared lots of humor and music together. I’d missed my spring semester at college returning in the fall, from a summer that Sally, Jennifer, and Susie made me feel so included. I was lonely back at college, but those memories were so sustaining to me. Marcia (Walsh) Hess
Sally had a very dynamic and unique personality which I remember fondly. I remember Sally's sense of humor and adventure from when I was a little girl. She would find humor in the oddest and silliest things which really was fun, and she taught me how to drive when I was too small to steer and reach the pedals at the same time. When my father passed, Sally showed her sweet and thoughtful side with the most touching letter about many memories she had of him. I still have this letter. I am so glad to have these good memories and many more of my sister.
I’ll never forget Sally’s smile and the sound of her laugh. The way she was so playful and silly and childlike drew me to her from a young age. When I was a few years old, we had a funny game where I would jump on her belly and she would say, “Oh no, here comes Lisa with the big ideas!” And from this inspired her treasured gift of a trampoline for our family years later. It was always special to have Sally present for holidays or special occasions as we didn’t get to see her as much as I would have liked. I love Sally dearly and she will always have a place in my heart where she’ll remind me to live with laughter, to be playful, and kind.
I remember Sally as a fun and fabulous aunt. She loved her fashion and was very into working out and being fit. I remember power walking up and down the snowy dirt road in Vermont with her as a kid borrowing her Velcro weights and trying to keep up while she told me funny stories. She was generous (remember the fashion shows?) and fun and had a verve for life when we were kids. She liked a little bit of mischief (definitely in the midnight ice cream club with Janet and they snuck me in). I loved being silly with her and her unique laughter will always resonate with me. Katie
Even though she was a bit isolated, she was always really hip when it came to music. When I was 10 and 11, she gave me some of my first CDs and tapes—The Replacements, The Cure, Bell Biv DeVoe, Human League—stuff I didn’t understand then but still listen to now! Also, she used to let me drive while sitting on her lap when I was about six. And she always thought of us for important milestones like graduations and weddings with generous and thoughtful gifts
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Marcia (Walsh) Hess
Katie
Dan
And she always thought of us for important milestones like graduations and weddings with generous and thoughtful gifts