She leaves behind her husband, Andrew Gelish, and their daughter Ava Emily. They were also expecting a son in July.
Sarah was born in Danbury on January 15, 1991 to Delia and A. Henrique Pinheiro. She graduated from Brookfield High School and later went on to receive degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and Fairfield University. She was awarded her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Fairfield University posthumously.
She worked as a school psychologist at Meeting House Hill Elementary School in New Fairfield. In the district she was a certified trainer for Physical and Psychological Management Training and coach for the Unified Sports Program. Sarah worked across all classrooms to deliver lessons about cooperation, social-emotional learning, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control, to all students. She always talked to students about the importance of being an upstander and spreading intentional acts of kindness.
Sarah spent nearly the past decade advocating for children, families, and school communities in the state of Connecticut through her various positions on the Connecticut Association of School Psychologists board. A graduate of the school psychology program at Fairfield University, Sarah was an integral part of the CASP board since 2014, when she assumed the role of Graduate Student Liaison for Fairfield University. In her time on the CASP board, Sarah held the positions of Chair of Professional Learning, 101st Secretary (2018-2019), 49th President-Elect (2019-2021), and 44th President (2021-2023). Prior to her position at New Fairfield Public Schools, Sarah also served as an intern at Middlegate Elementary School in Newtown.
Sarah was full of life and devoted her life to spreading kindness to all. Sarah was a force who touched countless hearts and lives and she selflessly used her light to lift people and causes. She has left an indelible mark on our community and will be greatly missed.
She is predeceased by grandparents Emily and Antonio Jeronimo and Eliza and Jose Pinheiro. She is survived by her parents Delia and A. Henrique Pinheiro, her sister Vanessa Lynch, brother Kyle Pinheiro, niece Makayla Lynch, nephews Rory Lynch and Anderson Gelish, mother and father-in-law Gregory and Carol Gelish and brother and sister-in-law Gregory and Lindsay Gelish. She leaves behind a very large network of family and friends.
The community is invited to come say their final goodbyes Friday, February 24, 2023 from 4 to 8 pm at The Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to Ava’s college fund by visiting the link provided under the donations section of Sarah's website.
