Sara A. Case MD

Sara Ann Case, M.D., beloved mother, wife, surgeon, and friend passed away from recurrent breast cancer on June 30, 2026. She lived a life rich in experience and purpose, defined by intellectual curiosity and a boundless passion for adventure.

Sara was born in Leesburg, VA on August 20, 1953, as the oldest of Elizabeth and F. Gardner Case’s two children. She was raised in Purcellville, VA before attending and graduating from the University of Chicago with a bachelor’s degree from the ideas and methods program. She earned a medical degree from the University of Virginia in 1979 and completed a General

Surgical Internship and Residency at the University of Rochester.

After completing her residency, Sara practiced in Chelsea, MA for two years. She then moved to Bantam, CT where she married Jeffrey Sanderson, M.D. They additionally shared a long-standing surgical partnership, frequently collaborating in the operating room. Sara was an attending surgeon at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, New Milford Hospital and Sharon Hospital and completed her medical career as director of the wound care center at Hartford Hospital.

Sara never shied away from a challenge. She fought breast cancer and several recurrences over the past 30 years. As a result of her personal experience, she was always generous with her time and talents as an empathetic and effective advocate for breast cancer survivorship. She dedicated herself to raising three children, while simultaneously managing a busy surgical practice.

Over the course of decades, Sara set out to read books by all of the Nobel laureates in literature. She was not only a voracious reader, but also a lifelong learner and an intrepid traveler who was curious about the broader world. When China opened to American tourists, she was among the first groups to visit. Sara biked around the island of Sardinia, kayaked inGlacier Bay, AK and safaried in Kenya. She also provided healthcare to underserved communities in Madagascar and the American West. In the last few years of her life, she traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico to study in a Spanish immersion program and explore the local culture.

The three sons Sara had with Jeff were the focus and joy of her life. She wanted them to be children of the larger world and expanded her own travel experiences with them. She taught her children right from wrong while also being a deeply loving and caring mother. She was an avid hiker, runner, swimmer, skier, and cyclist and crewed in We Can Row, a cancer survivorship program in Salisbury, CT.

Sara is survived by her loving family: husband Jeffrey Sanderson, M.D.; sons and spouses Ry and Natalie Sanderson of Rowayton, CT, Shane Sanderson, J.D., of Lawrence, KS, and Galen Sanderson, M.D., and Ellie Rettew of Bethesda, MD; and granddaughter Harper Sanderson of Rowayton, CT. In addition to her parents Sara was predeceased by her brother, Samuel Case,and her in-laws: Bob and Barb Sanderson, Debbie Sanderson, Amy Sanderson and Joann Ladds.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Regional Hospice, Danbury, CT.

A celebration of Sara’s life will be held at a later date.