Sara was born in Havana, Cuba on January 15, 1936. She graduated from Havana Business University, and began working as the assistant to the director of the National Planning Board. Around the same time, her love for music led her and three friends to open a recording studio called Producciones Momo.
In 1960 she married the love of her life, Luis, in Havana. In 1961, Sara and Luis arrived in the United States seeking political asylum. They would later become citizens in 1969. After living in Miami for five months, Sara, Luis, and soon to follow, Sara’s father, moved to Raleigh, NC when Luis accepted a job as a civil engineer with the North Carolina Highway Commission. Once in Raleigh, Sara got a job working in the library at NC State University. She also used to play guitar at events and International Festivals at the University.
In 1965, their daughter Sara (Sarita) was born. In 1968, the family moved to Charlotte when Luis accepted a design engineer position with Duke Power (currently Duke Energy.) Sara found a job working in the library at Central Piedmont Community College. In 1969 she started a job as Art Librarian at the Mint Museum of Art, and later in addition to librarian, she served as liaison between the Mint Museum and the Latin American community until her retirement in 2004.
In the early 1970s, Sara and Luis began to volunteer for the Catholic Hispanic Center and started the publication newsletter called Comuniquémosnos. In 1972, along with other Latino families and the Catholic Church, they organized the first Latin American Festival in Charlotte.
Sara was also a member of various organizations. She served as president and member of the Catholic Hispanic Center, the Latin American Women’s Association (currently known as Latin Americans Working for Achievement,) and the Art Libraries Society of North America/Southeast Chapter. In addition, she was a member of the Latin American Council of Charlotte, the Latino Initiative of Charlotte (Steering Committee,) Latin American Coalition (Board of Directors,) Blumenthal Performing Arts Center (Latin American Advisory Committee,) YWCA (Board of Directors,) Metrolina Library Association (Board of Directors,) co-chair of the All Nations Festival and the World 600 Festival and one of the early organizers of the Latin American Festival and the Latin American Forum at the Mint Museum.
She received awards and recognition for her community work, as a mentor, a role model, and activist in the Latino Charlotte region. In 2001, she received the North Carolina Diamante Award in the category of Art and Culture. In 2004, she received recognition from the National Hispanic Cultural Foundation for her commitment and dedication to the Charlotte Latino community, and in 2006 from La Noticia Spanish Newspaper. In 2011, she and her husband Luis were recognized by the Latin American Women’s Association for their years of service to the community, and LAWA then started the Sara Wolf Scholarship Award to be awarded every year to a deserving Latino scholar.
Her hobbies included music and dancing. She enjoyed singing, playing guitar, playing the conga drums, bongos, maracas and other percussion instruments. She sang and played with several church choirs and with several local groups, composing several of her own songs both in Cuba and the US. Many friendly gatherings always ended with playing music and dancing. She also loved art and painting. She started painting in Cuba under the guidance of Armando Maribona, art professor at San Alejandro School of Art, and also from Guido Aguilera, a well-known illustrator.
She took classes at NC State University with the late Joe Cox, well known NC artist and professor. In Charlotte, she took classes with well-known artist, Elizabeth Ross. She exhibited her artwork at several galleries and events in both Raleigh and Charlotte.
Sara had a very active social life, and she enjoyed gathering with family and friends. She touched the lives of so many people, and she will be remembered for her Catholic faith, her warm smile, compassion, generosity, her music, her dancing, her community service, her ability to listen and love without judgement, and for the joy she brought to the lives of those she touched. She will live in our hearts and memories forever.
Sara is survived by her daughter Sara (Sarita) and her husband John of Charlotte; granddaughter Jennifer Isrel (Tommy) and their daughters Payton and Zoey of Phoenix; many nieces, nephews and cousins, and many close friends who she considered her extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband Luis, and parents Manuela and Policarpo Hevia.
A service to celebrate Sara’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 5th, 2024 in the chapel of McEwen Funeral Service - Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road. The family will receive friends following the service, along with a reception.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 7th, 2024 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211. Immediately following will be the interment at Sharon Memorial Park, 5716 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, NC 28212.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (www.secondharvestmetrolina.org) or to an organization of your choice.
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