Sarah Goddard Power
Encyclopedia
Sarah Goddard Power was a United States Democratic Party
activist and University of Michigan Regent
who committed suicide
by falling out a window at the Burton Tower
on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.
Born in Detroit in 1935 and a graduate from Vassar College
, Goddard also received a diploma in French at the Alliance Francaise in Paris and a master's degree in politics and international relations from New York University in 1965. After serving as an executive assistant on Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller's personal staff from 1959 to 1963, she married newspaper
publisher Phillip Power. From 1966 to 1969, Sarah Power was executive director of the New York City
Commission for the United Nations
and Consular Corps in the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay. She chaired the U.S. national commission for UNESCO
, and was a delegate to four worldwide United Nations-related conferences.
Elected a University of Michigan Regent in 1974, she was a supporter of Jimmy Carter
and served as a delegate to Democratic National Convention in 1976. In 1980, Carter named her New York City's deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights and social affairs, a position she held until 1981, when she returned to the university.
. Allegedly, she had been suffering from physical problems and from depression and was under the care of one of the University's top psychiatrists.
Sarah Goddard Power was 52, leaving behind her husband Phil and her son, Nathan.
After her death, the Burton Tower's structure was modified, with the addition of stops to prevent windows from opening more than a few inches.
appointed Phil Power to his wife's Regents seat; he served in that capacity until he was defeated in a close, four-way election in 1998. Phillip's father, Eugene B. Power, had also served as a U of M Regent, from 1955 to 1971.
The Sarah Goddard Power Distinguished Service Award is given every year at the University of Michigan for "significant achievement in contributing to the betterment of women in the following areas: distinguished leadership, scholarship, or other activities related to their professional lives."
Sarah Power was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame
in 1988.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
activist and University of Michigan Regent
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
who committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by falling out a window at the Burton Tower
Burton Tower
The Burton Memorial Tower is a clock tower located on Central Campus at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor at 230 South Ingalls Street. Housing a grand carillon, the tower was built in 1936 as a memorial for University President Marion Leroy Burton...
on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.
Born in Detroit in 1935 and a graduate from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, Goddard also received a diploma in French at the Alliance Francaise in Paris and a master's degree in politics and international relations from New York University in 1965. After serving as an executive assistant on Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller's personal staff from 1959 to 1963, she married newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
publisher Phillip Power. From 1966 to 1969, Sarah Power was executive director of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Commission for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and Consular Corps in the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay. She chaired the U.S. national commission for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, and was a delegate to four worldwide United Nations-related conferences.
Elected a University of Michigan Regent in 1974, she was a supporter of Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
and served as a delegate to Democratic National Convention in 1976. In 1980, Carter named her New York City's deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights and social affairs, a position she held until 1981, when she returned to the university.
Death
On March 24, 1987, Sarah Goddard committed suicide by falling to her death from the eighth floor of 212-foot-high Burton TowerBurton Tower
The Burton Memorial Tower is a clock tower located on Central Campus at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor at 230 South Ingalls Street. Housing a grand carillon, the tower was built in 1936 as a memorial for University President Marion Leroy Burton...
. Allegedly, she had been suffering from physical problems and from depression and was under the care of one of the University's top psychiatrists.
Sarah Goddard Power was 52, leaving behind her husband Phil and her son, Nathan.
After her death, the Burton Tower's structure was modified, with the addition of stops to prevent windows from opening more than a few inches.
Legacy
Michigan governor James BlanchardJames Blanchard
James Johnston "Jim" Blanchard is a politician from the US state of Michigan. A Democrat, Blanchard has served in the United States House of Representatives, as the 45th Governor of Michigan, and as United States Ambassador to Canada....
appointed Phil Power to his wife's Regents seat; he served in that capacity until he was defeated in a close, four-way election in 1998. Phillip's father, Eugene B. Power, had also served as a U of M Regent, from 1955 to 1971.
The Sarah Goddard Power Distinguished Service Award is given every year at the University of Michigan for "significant achievement in contributing to the betterment of women in the following areas: distinguished leadership, scholarship, or other activities related to their professional lives."
Sarah Power was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame
Michigan Women's Hall of Fame
The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame honors distinguished women, both historical and contemporary, who have been associated with the U.S. state of Michigan. It is housed in the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame building, located at 213 W. Malcolm X St. in downtown Lansing, Michigan...
in 1988.