Obituary of Sally J. Leiter

AIKEN, SC- Sally J. Leiter, age 76, died Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Sally was born in New York City, New York on March 30, 1943. Her father and mother moved the family upstate to High Falls some years later and they lived in an old Huguenot stone house called Shadow Lawn. As a child, she rode horses, swam in the river behind her house, snuck into Mohonk- a private retreat and played sports with the area kids. Grandmother and grandfather were here as well as her parents and her older brother, Bruce. She developed a strong desire to become a nurse.

Sally went to Kingston High School, graduated, then went to Denison University in Ohio for two years and finally got her RN degree at Columbia University- School of Nursing. She married Michael Hasbrouck, a high school sweetheart. He got a job in Denver and Sally was willing to follow him and spent an extremely important time there making deep friendships. However, she and Michael separated after many years. 

Sally continued her education at The University of Colorado in Denver and obtained her Masters degree in Nursing and Adult Nurse Practitioner. Over time she became the Associate Director of Nursing at the Denver Visiting Nurse Service. Sally did not linger and knew that she wanted the top position in her field so she put a resume out across the country and was offered the leadership of the Rochester Visiting Nurse Service after an unusual interview marred by her plane being late and some other things going awry. 

She served as the President of the Rochester Visiting Nurse Service for twenty years and did much to extend the organization and to keep it viable in a complex and competitive environment. At the end of her career, through much turmoil in her business life, she merged VNS into The University of Rochester and Strong Memorial Hospital. She was ready to retire- exhausted.

Going back to her start in Rochester, Sally met Robert Leiter. They would see each other at Cobbs Hill playing volleyball or at tennis on Saturday mornings in the winter.  It was a great dining night at the Mucky Duck that started a strong dating relationship that never ended. With a Bob Dylan song from Planet Waves playing in the background, she agreed to marriage. A new journey began that ultimately led to Aiken, SC and retirement.  

Sally loved her pets, animals, birds, especially bluebirds, traveling, reading, dining, cooking, playing bridge, antiques, home designs, and watching British shows, The Royal Family and more. Sally received a Diamond Certification from the GIA and worked for Floyd & Greene for a number of enjoyable years. She played golf for a while and played it pretty well. Sally loved playing hand and foot with the neighbors and 500 with friends. She enjoyed Aiken and all it had to offer. She hired a young person by the name of Cody Anderson to take care of her dog when she went on trips. She had met him at Woodside serving as a waiter. She would meet, and demanded to meet him, again at the end.

Sally was a go-getter with tremendous energy. She chose medicine as a career to help people. Unfortunately for her, medical care became a big part of her own life; especially the last couple of months. Her brother, Bruce, died in the middle of this time period and Sally never got a chance to truly mourn his loss. They passed away within three months of each other.

There is no more pain and no more false hopes for Sally of things to come. On her desk there is a statement to herself- “One of these days” is today! She did not want things to stagnate and left undone. In a note in the safe she listed things Bob should do if she passes. At the bottom she wrote, “I love you- you’ll be fine!” She would want to thank all of you for your love and support, especially during the last months.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edmond Ruffner; and her brother, Bruce Ruffner.

She is survived by her beloved husband of thirty-seven years, Robert C. Leiter.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held Monday, March 16, 2020 from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm at George Funeral Home in downtown Aiken.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.

The Historic George Funeral Home, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234).

Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com