WA - Sally Briggs Wold died peacefully at home on November 21, just shy of her 99th birthday. Born on December 19, 1926 in Ashaway, Rhode Island to a seventh generation New England family, Sally never lost touch with her East Coast roots, her cousins running the Beriah Lewis dairy farm in North Stonington, CT or her lifelong friendships with the Crandall family, Tippy Salimeno, and others.

As a young adult, Sally took her adventurous spirit and degree in microbiology from Brown University to New York City where she worked under the tutelage of Dr. René Debos at the Rockefeller Institute, researching vaccines for tuberculosis. Later, in response to an offer from the newly founded University of Washington School of Medicine, Sally relocated to Seattle, WA, to work with Dr. William Kirby on rheumatic fever and rheumatoid arthritis research. There she met a young medical student, Mike Wold, of Kirkland, WA, who would become her husband and lifelong partner until his death in 2001, just shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Sally was bright, curious, and unpretentious with a cheerful nature, wry sense of humor, and infectious laugh. Her passing leaves an enormous hole in her family's universe. Predeceased by her husband Mike and her eldest daughter Leslie Costa, Sally is survived by her daughters Sherry Ettel (Peter) and Sue Pochepan, her son Peter Wold, her most beloved daughter-in-law Debbie Wold, 10 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren, all of whom adored their "Gigi" beyond measure. Sally thrived in her life at Judson Park, where she lived for 14 years, forming deep, meaningful relationships and contributing to the community in vital ways. Sally also leaves behind a loving extended community of friends and family on Henry Island in the American San Juans, where she spent some of her happiest times.

A celebration of Sally's life will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 14 at Judson Park in Des Moines, WA. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Judson Park Benevolence Fund (www.humangood.org/foundation) or the San Juan Preservation Trust.