Wellington Horace Sawyer 1943-2023
Wellington Sawyer was born in Mount Vernon, New York on September 21, 1943 to Weldon Sawyer and Ruth Nelson, the middle son of three boys. He was raised in Yonkers, New York where he completed his elementary and high school education (Lincoln High School ‘61) excelling in both academics and athletics.
Shortly after, Wellington took his talents to Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland (Class of ‘67) where he pledged the oldest intercollegiate historically African American fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha.
Shortly after graduating from Morgan, Wellington moved back to New York. He earned two Masters Degrees in Special Education, and Supervision and Administration from the College of New Rochelle. He then embarked on a 25+ year career as an educator in the New York City Public Schoolsystem, highlighted by his appointment as principal of PS 183 in Rockaway, Queens in 1990.
During his time as an educator, Wellington was also extremely active in his local west Bronx community of Riverdale serving as little league coach for baseball, basketball, and softball. Most significantly, he held the position as Aquatics Manager at the Skyview-on-the-Hudson pool, which elevated him to new a level of stardom as a local leader, and also introduced him to one particular Skyview resident, Lydia Gonzalez.
Lydia and Wellington would be together through partnership and marriage for 44 years, raising two sons, Kyle and Chris, together as devoted family members of the Riverdale/Skyview community.
Post retirement in 1998, Wellington joined Lydia in the family business as education consultants, while also pursuing personal passions such as traveling, racquetball, and visiting family and friends.
Wellington is survived by his wife Lydia, sons Kyle (Lourdes), and Chris (Tony), brothers Rinico, Ronald, Vernon, Wendell, Michael,sister Lorraine, granddaughter Amber, great-granddaughters Anais and Audrey Monae, godfather to Carl, Joy, and Leilani, as well as many other nephews, nieces and cousins.
Wellington was an icon and leader to all whom he encountered. His love for his family and sense of community will forever be unmatched.
There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 from 11:30 AM - 2:30 pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, New York 10471.