Sabra Fay Eagan

Sabra Fay Eagan, of Jefferson City, died Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at Heisinger Bluffs. She was born in Jefferson City, Mo., the daughter of the late Edgar Michael and Beulah Fay Shields Eagan. She graduated from Jefferson City High School and received degrees from Stephens College and Southern Methodist University. Summers were invested at Parsons School of Design, New York University, and Hunter College in New York City. Upon graduation from SMU, she continued at three schools in Rome, Italy, and received diplomas. All degrees were in haute couture, Italian language, and Italian culture. Sabra's fashion career in the United States began as the assistant to Bill Blass in New York City. After an European holiday with her parents, she fell in love with Venice and returned there to improve her Italian and to study to become a painter. She was introduced to renowned painter-sculptor Luciano Dall'Acqua of Venice, whose glass sculpture is in the Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy. Luciano Dall' Acqua accepted Sabra as his only student. Sabra's art gained recognition during the 500th anniversary of the Americas Columbus Celebration in Genoa. "Navigatore" won the Columbus Award first prize bestowed by Presidentessa Giaele Polleri and the Tourist Bureau Portofino Award. The SS Costa Classica featured her work during a 1992 celebration cruise that retraced the Christopher Columbus route to the New World. Her paintings and sculptures have won 58 national and international awards and she has had 55 personal exhibits in Europe, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and the United States. Governor and Mrs. Joseph Teasdale selected Sabra's painting of "Madonna and Child" as the Missouri State Christmas Card. In 1979, Sabra became the first Missouri painter to be officially recognized with a Resolution of Commendation and Appreciation by the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives. Sabra was the "Painter of the Year" in 1994, in Rapallo, Italy. She had two personal exhibitions in the 16th Century Cattaneo-Adorno Palace. The Italian American Association presented her with the same document which was given to Queen Elizabeth II during her state visit to Genoa, Italy. In addition, she had two more personal exhibitions at Galleria D"Arte of the Doria Palace. This event received television coverage in Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany. Sabra's paintings are included in history books in Genoa and Venice, Italy. She participated with the Swiss Committee to "Save Venice." She held three showings for UNESCO for "The Year of the Child." In 2001, she was recognized at a special celebration as one of 132 alumnae who received the Stephens College Alumnae Achievement Award during the college's history. For St. Mary's Health Center's 80th Anniversary Celebration, she was commissioned to paint the "Ad Vitam", "Venite, Parvuli", and "Secundum Hippoeratem" for the hospital's art collection. During the hospital's 100th Centennial Anniversary Celebration, she exhibited "Healing Through Art." At this occasion, it was announced that Sabra had been commissioned to sculpt an eight foot tall marble statue, the "Stella Maris" in Italy. The Carrara marble image of The Blessed Virgin Mary will be placed at the new St. Mary's Health Center. In 2012, the Zonta Club of Jefferson City named Sabra as the Mrs. William H. Weldon Lifetime Achievement Award winner at their annual Women of Achievement Yellow Rose Luncheon. A Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church, she was a member of P.E.O. Chapter BW, Stephens College Alumnae Club, Morning Music Club, Tuesday Club, Century Study Club, and the Cole County Historical Society. Survivors include: five cousins, JoAnn Eagan, Harold Simon, Sue Shields Evans, Jane Russell Underhill, and Shirley Shields Anderson. Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 30, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Rob Erickson and the Rev. Dr. David Henry officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Health Center Foundation, 100 St. Mary's Medical Plaza, Jefferson City, Mo 65101; First Presbyterian Church, 324 Madison St., Jefferson City, MO 65101; and Stephens College, 1200 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO 65215. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.