Sally Elizabeth Knott Gibbons, a longtime resident of Greenwich, passed away on September 25, 2023, at the age of 96.
She was born on December 29, 1926 in Ottawa, IL to Richard & Dorothy Knott. The middle of three children, Sally went on to graduate from Mt. Holyoke College in 1948 with a B.S. in Anatomy and Physiology. She often wondered why in the world she chose that field of study when it was music she loved!
Seeking adventure and new experiences, she moved to California after college, where she worked in the music department of Mills College and later became an assistant to the composer, Darius Milhaud. She also worked at the San Francisco Opera House.
After a few years, she relocated to NYC, where she enjoyed the rich musical and cultural scene. She spoke fondly of hearing various artists performing live, such as Frank Sinatra at the Copa Cabana, Duke Ellington, and many others.
Sally was passionate about music, especially classical and opera. She was a patron of the Metropolitan Opera, the American Ballet Theater and Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. She was also a longtime member of The Knollwood Garden Club.
Sally is fondly remembered for her gentle nature, her astounding recall of symphonies, operas, song lyrics, and poetry, and her love of cats.
She is predeceased by her husband, Maxfield Scott Gibbons, with whom she enjoyed countless travels as well as frequent trips to NYC.
Sally is survived by her loving children, Nicholas Raynor, Andrew Raynor (Rev. Andrea) and Sara Raynor, her dear grandchildren, Catherine (Ali) and Alexander and brother Richard F. Knott Jr. She is predeceased by her sister, Dorothy Reeves.
To honor Sally’s life, family and friends will gather on Friday 3:00-7:00pm at Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home, 134 Hamilton Ave Greenwich, 203-869-5968.
A private service will take place on Saturday, followed by internment at Putnam Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to NY Pet Rescue New York Pet Rescue or to Cat Assistance www.catassistanceny.org