Sally Ann Firestone was born in Chicago March 22, 1947 to Jesse E. Firestone and Marian Lucille Barger Firestone. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers: Robert D. Firestone and Richard G. Firestone. Being a preacher’s kid meant Sally moved a lot: Skokie, Woodstock, Oak Park, Geneva, and Belvedere, Illinois.
She graduated from Geneva Community High School in 1965 and Illinois Wesleyan University in 1969. Sally moved to Kansas City in 1975 and worked at Peck & Peck, Addressograph-Multigraph, and then IBM. Her life dramatically changed in 1981. She survived catastrophic injuries in the Hyatt skywalk collapse, leaving her to figure out how to live life as a quadriplegic. She has done so with incredible good spirits, determination and service: as a board member for St. Paul School of Theology, the Folly Theatre, the
Kansas City Academy, Kingswood Senior Living Community, Central United Methodist Church (now Resurrection Brookside), and the American Jazz Museum. She has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Kansas City Ballet, the Heartland Men’s Chorus, Harvesters, the Whole Person, Friends of Alvin Ailey, and SAVE, Inc.
Sally wanted her caregivers to know how much she appreciated their care and dedication, especially Vickie Mitchell. She is survived by a host of friends who will never forget her and three cousins: David Firestone (Olathe, KS), Ruth Ann Firestone (Dallas,TX), and Sara Firestone (Charleston, SC) and her daughter Satima, as well as extended family in Lake Geneva, Wi.
Sally has requested that in lieu of flowers she may be remembered by a donation to the Kingswood Foundation, 10000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114 or to Resurrection Brookside.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 10:00 am at Resurrection Brookside, 5144 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64112
