Natasha Sahadi

Natasha Sahadi, one of most versatile, fun, kind and generous persons left this world on Sunday, November 28, 2010, quite unexpectedly with a sudden heart attack at her home with her family beside her. She was born in Toledo, Ohio on May 12, 1949, from the union of Mitchell and Elaine Sahadi. Natasha made her home in New York for the past 35 years. She graduated from Start High School in 1967 and was a graduate of the University of Toledo earning both her B.A. and M.A. in the 1970s. She started her employment at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Toledo as the Art Specialist. Natasha then moved east and started teaching in New Jersey and Brooklyn. She was employed at the Adelphi Academy where she worked as Assistant Head of School; there she also taught night school classes at the college teaching English as a second language. Since 1995, Natasha has been Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at the Town School in New York City. In addition to her innumerable contributions at Town School, Natasha was an active, greatly respected voice and force for progress in the wider Admissions profession. She was an involved member and Honorary former chair of the ISAAGNY, Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York. She was also a former member of NYSAIS, New York State Association of Independent Schools. An active contributor, collaborator and frequent workshop presenter for NYSAIS and the National Association of Independent Schools, NAIS, she organized the first NYSAIS Admissions Directors conference in 2001, an annual tradition now in its 10th year. Natasha was Founding Board President of the AISAP, Association of Independent School Admission Professionals, for the past eight years. This summer they named their summer program Sahadi Summer Scholarship Program in her honor. Natashas tireless work and vision have left a legacy of progress, innovation and passion for her fellow admissions professionals. She touched countless lives throughout her career as an artist, teacher and admissions professional. Natasha brought unending joy, love, wit, energy, generosity and enormous talent to her work. Her wisdom, laughter, and presence will be missed. Natasha leaves behind to cherish her memory, her mother, Elaine Sahadi; siblings, Robert Diana Sahadi, Susan James Parr and Carole Daniel Hinds; nieces and nephews, Eric Renee Schultz, Nicholas Gillian, Matthew and Christina Sahadi, Jamie Julie Parr, Melissa Mike Surane and Amanda Parr and Lindsey, Lauren and Danny Hinds; Uncles Ted Pat Sahadi and George Dorothy Ehrenfried; and great nephew and nieces, Mia Parr, Michael and Madison Surane. In addition, she had many cousins; and best friends, Janet and Mitch White, Dr. John Birnkrant and Robin Ormsby. She was preceded in death by her father, Mitchell.