We are saddened to learn of the passing this year of Linda Sayre, 1994 President

Linda Sayre was an extraordinary woman whose significant talents were put to full use when she took over chapter leadership.  She became president of the chapter at a critical juncture – corporations had stopped paying membership dues and ATD membership dropped considerably. Linda engineered the restructuring of the financial base and member services, downsizing the outside vendor who provided administration services. She also consolidated the leadership structure to eliminate an unworkable decision-making process and created in its place a way to honor senior level professionals on an advisory council. It was a masterful move. 

Linda brought a fresh perspective and new ideas to the chapter. She created the role VP of Community Outreach and spearheaded partnerships with HSBC, LYNX (a black women’s bankers group), Time Warner Cable, and the New York City Department of Employment to develop programs to give minority young people exposure to corporate life.  She presented this model at the national ATD conference. She continued to be involved in the chapter, most recently on the ATD NYC Nominating Committee.

Linda held senior human resource positions in the public and private sector and was an adjunct instructor; she loved teaching and motivating adult students to successfully apply learning to their careers, and in other areas in their lives.  She was well traveled and spent her junior year of high school studying in Switzerland.  Her doctorate in Adult and Continuing Education was from Rutgers, and her two master’s degrees were from Columbia University and the University of Sussex in the UK.

Recollection by Margaret Maat, 1995 President:

Linda Sayre was one of the most remarkable women I ever met. She had the ability to discern instinctually how to make leadership decisions that would benefit the health of the organization. She saw issues related to leading people clearly, no rose-colored glasses. 

Her wit and candor were refreshing. She could have you in stitches one moment and wowed in the next with some story of human foible. She was well read and always prepared. She was also vulnerable, no armor on her soul. What you saw was what you got. 

She endured much with grace and fortitude. What a treasure. 

Recollection by Jay Colan, 1993 President:

Linda had a great sense of history and culture and a love of New York City. She is remembered for her spirit of life, her wit, and her willingness and drive to do things differently that will have practical benefits.  We will miss her.   

Special thanks to Anne Lesch, Margaret Maat, and Jay Colan for notifying the chapter and for providing this tribute.