Mary Elizabeth Logan Sawyer, affectionately known as “Ibby,” passed away on April 10, 2026, in Hartford, Connecticut. She was born on October 28, 1947, in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, the third daughter of Jane Woolridge Logan and Joseph Edwin Logan.
Ibby graduated from Lock Haven High School in 1965. She attended Lock Haven University and pursued graduate studies at UMass Amherst. She began her career teaching high school English at Windsor High School before finding her true professional home at Fishers Island School, where she taught from 1989 to 2014. Teaching was her passion, and she loved her students fiercely. The impact she had on generations of students was profound and enduring. She will be missed by her Fishers Island School colleagues.
On June 21, 1975, Ibby married Leonard Sawyer II. She is survived by her son, Edward (“Ned”) Sawyer, and his wife, Carrie, as well as her daughter, Jane Whipple, and her husband, Tim. Her grandchildren brought her immense joy — Jack and Wyatt Sawyer, and Lucy and Henry Whipple were truly her world.
Ibby is also survived by her beloved sister, Margaret Ake, and brother-in-law, Bill, of Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by her husband, Len, and her sister, Virginia Seay.
Family meant everything to Ibby. She will be deeply missed by her Pennsylvania family and her five treasured nephews.
Ibby was known to “hold court” on Saturday mornings at the Stonington Velvet Mill, where she gathered with a close-knit group of friends. A former member of the Trillium Garden Club, she was an avid gardener, especially known for her beautiful daylilies. She cherished returning to Pennsylvania each year to her family’s camp, Buckeye Lodge, for a Thanksgiving celebration, a tradition that meant a great deal to her.
The family extends special thanks to Dr. John McCardle for his years of compassionate and expert care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mystic & Noank Public Library, Groton Public Library, or the Mystic River Historical Society.
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Mystic Funeral Home on Apr. 20, 2026
