Sally Hamilton Jennings of Londonderry, Vt. died unexpectedly of apparent heart failure on March 7, 2021. She was 77.
Fiercely independent, Sally led a rich, varied life by following her own best instincts. Born on July 22, 1943 in White Plains, N.Y. to Barbara Lewis Jennings and D.O.S. Jennings, she spent her early life in Maine, where her father taught history and coached various sports at Hebron Academy. In 1957 she moved with the family to Montclair, N.J., and then to Shaker Heights, Ohio in 1962, following the course of her father’s teaching career.
Her summers were defined by long, glorious months in Provincetown at her maternal grandmother’s home with her parents and younger sisters Marne and Deborah. During those summers, Sally formed lifelong friendships with Janet Whelan and Stormy Mayo.
In 1965, Sally received a B.A. from Western Reserve University with a double major in French and Italian. Initially, she taught preschool in Cleveland before relocating to Washington, D.C. and then Boston to pursue similar teaching positions.
In the summer of 1969, Sally greeted Pete Seeger’s sloop Clearwater as it pulled into Provincetown Harbor as part of its eco-cruise. There, she met British folk musician Louis Killen and instantly fell in love. Sally joined the crew as cook for the remainder of the summer.
Come autumn, she and Louis flew off to Newcastle upon Tyne in England, where they toured and sang together. When they returned to the states many months later, the Killens settled first in Provincetown and then, briefly, in Maine. They divorced amicably in 1976.
In 1979, Sally married chef Robert Teague in Camden, Maine, thus merging the lives of two genuine food lovers. For 20 years, they made a grand life together, working in various restaurants and starting their own place called Rafi. Subsequent moves and jobs brought Sally and Bob to Vermont before they, too, divorced.
Sally’s final career was working at the Vermont Country Store, where she found great satisfaction as a sales clerk. Although she never had children, she lavished affection on her nephew, Pete Hodgin; her four nieces, Jenny and Meg Hodgin and Sarah and Julia Minsky; and their children. Sally loved family holidays and was creative and generous in her gift-giving.
An avid reader, gardener, and cat adorer, Sally loved all kinds of music, all the time. Her sisters, Marne Hodgin of North Truro and Deborah Minsky of Provincetown, and brothers-in-law Tony Hodgin and Dennis Minsky, miss her terribly.
A quiet Capeside memorial is hoped for later this summer, details to be announced. The family expresses special gratitude to Sally’s Vermont neighbor Lila Butler for her extraordinary care and friendship.
