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BORN
1953
DIED
2016
Sagan Lewis Obituary
Lewis played Dr. Jacqueline Wade on "St. Elsewhere" for the show's entire six-season run, from 1982 to 1988. Though she wasn't one of the show's top-billed stars, she was a regular throughout the series and appeared in its first episode. In the sixth season, she became featured in the opening credits.
Her character was a young surgical resident who was promoted to Chief Resident during the show's run, with some plots revolving around her crumbling marriage and a relationship with a co-worker in its aftermath.
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Other roles for Lewis included a recurring part on "Homicide: Life on the Street" as Judge Susan Aandahl and a guest spot on one of the final episodes of "M*A*S*H." She also taught acting workshops at the Zaki Gordon Institute of Independent Film, as well as taking on the role of program director at the Sedona International Film Festival for several years.
A statement from the Sedona Film Festival on their Facebook page read in part, "She worked endless hours, often watching more than a thousand film entries herself, to choose the perfect films for our savvy Sedona audiences. She challenged us to listen to EVERY independent voice because 'they all have a place in our festival.'"
Lewis was married to writer and producer Tom Fontana, who wrote for "St. Elsewhere," in 1982. They divorced in 1993 but later reconnected, remarrying in 2015. He survives her, as does their son, Jade Scott Lewis.
Lewis requested memorial contributions to the Ocean Foundation. Of this request, Fontana noted, "To say that Sagan Lewis loved the ocean would be a massive understatement. The ocean and she were inseparable, no matter if she was on a beach in Maui or a mountain top in Sedona or walking along the grand canyons of New York City. The ocean fed her its life giving energy and she gave the ocean her beauty and devotion."
Memories and Condolences
for Sagan Lewis
24 Entries
Harland Stanley
November 10, 2016
My Prayers and thoughts are with the Family of Ms. Lewis. She was one of the greatest actresses of all time.
Robin Rosenr
September 6, 2016
Those of us who only knew her from her TV appearances seem to have barely known this wonderful and caring soul who seems to have known there was value in every person's efforts. May those who knew her find comfort in the wonderful memories they shared with her. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Leslie
August 27, 2016
Too young and beautiful. Sagan will always be in our hearts.
Johnny Elton
August 16, 2016
I would have liked to known you, but I was just a kid. Your candle burned out long before your legend ever will.....
Kathy McQuaid Getz
August 15, 2016
Susie, Susie, Susie. You were my first childhood friend and we were inseparable on S 21st Street until we graduated from high school. Thanks for all of the good memories that I still treasure. RIP my friend.
Andrea
August 13, 2016
To Mr , Fontana
I am so very sorry for the loss of your wife,
Please accept my condolences and sympathies, may the peace that surpasses all understanding comforts you now and the days to come.
E,S
August 13, 2016
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Maryann Corbin Cary
August 12, 2016
Rest in peace Sagan. God bless your family.
joe king
August 12, 2016
allways will be remembered for your great work on st.elsewhere as dr.jacqueline wade rest in peace god bless!!!
August 12, 2016
So sorry for your loss. My mom and I watched St Elsewhere together and loved Sagan. I share her affinity for the ocean.
Jane Dowling
August 12, 2016
God bless you and your loved ones, dear Sagan ~ Rest in peace.
August 12, 2016
I did not know the actress' work but appreciate her love for nature and expressly the ocean, just one of God's majestic works. Its healing of the senses, emotions, restorative and invigorating powers may have given her much conscious peace when enduring and fighting her aggressive foe. God's means of curing, everlastingly, the ills now here will soon be a thing of the past. He is faithful and true. Psalms 103:All.
August 12, 2016
So sorry for your loss. May God grant you peace Jer 29:11
Glen Hausfeld
August 11, 2016
Peace.
DS
August 11, 2016
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
michele plakas-kaiser
August 11, 2016
rip
August 11, 2016
so so sorry for your loss. May she be a Peace
Meg Shapleigh
August 11, 2016
Sagan, you were my mom in the southwest. I am so very lucky and grateful to have known and loved you, and be loved by you. I will treasure you and your kindness forever. Thank you for the best birthday ever in NYC! If I new it was going to be the last time I saw you, I would have never left. I will honor the oceans and feed the butterflies always. I love you
August 10, 2016
I am truly sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort give your family strength and support during this difficult time. Deepest sympathies.
Mary Green
August 10, 2016
RIP!
Scott Chamberland
August 10, 2016
Rest in Peace
Harry Simpson
August 10, 2016
Godspeed, and thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.
Victoria Morris
August 10, 2016
I am very sorry to the friends and family for the loss. Soon there will come a time when we will never have to grieve the loss of a loved one in death ever again. Ps 37:9-11
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