Deborah Mabel Sawyer

Deborah Mabel Sawyer, 60, a resident of Chicago, IL, was born in Columbus, OH, where she passed away Sunday, August 7, 2016, from ovarian cancer. Ms. Sawyer attended the Columbus School for Girls and went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Emory University and Master of Science in Petroleum Microbiology from Eastern New Mexico University. As a young professional in a male-dominated engineering field, she found success by creating a consulting firm’s profitable solid, toxic and hazardous waste management division. Later she founded Environmental Design International, Inc. (EDI) – a company she grew from a handful of employees to a profitable company of approximately 70 individuals who celebrated a 25th anniversary earlier this year. She was committed to her community – personally and professionally – and she left a legacy of empowering young women to pursue their interest in entrepreneurship and science careers. Ms. Sawyer was committed to reaching out to aspiring women business owners and she worked to develop the interest of young women in STEM fields. She loved her pets, which she affectionately referred to as her “fur children,” and she enjoyed reading, gourmet cooking and gardening. Predeceased by her father Mr. William Wesley Sawyer (1968). Survived by her mother, Mrs. Betty Pride Sawyer; her sister, Ms. Leslie Joy Sawyer (Mr. Rick Redmon), brother, Dr. Wm. Gregory Sawyer (Dr. Rita Gloria Sawyer), God sister, Ms. Cynthia Barnett (Mr. Ranford Hopkins), aunts, Mrs. LaVerne Dukes King and Mrs. Gertrude Sawyer; several cousins including Karen (Fred) Phillips and David (Patricia) King, and a host of extended family. A celebration of her life will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, September 11, 2016, at Columbus School for Girls, Shedd Theatre, followed by a reception for family and friends. Memorial donations may be made in Deborah’s name to Columbus School for Girls (https://www.columbusschoolforgirls.org/) or the Cat Welfare Association (http://www.catwelfareassoc.org/). “You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived.” We choose to smile because Deborah lived life to its fullest by loving and appreciating life in all its forms.