Sara Miriam Greenspan August 11, 2026

Sara Miriam (Jacobs) Greenspan passed away at home on August 11, 2026. Her devotion to family, friends and her profession will live on.

Miriam is survived by her husband Phil, daughter Susan Greenspan and her husband David Buffum and her grandson Oliver Miles Buffum of Madison, NJ. Her brother Steven Jacobs and his wife Helen of Marshfield, MA, sister Lee-Anne Jacobs of Quincy, Ma, sister-in-law Beth Greenspan of East Bridgewater, MA and sister-in-law Marcia Dokurno and her husband Leon of Bridgewater, MA as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was the oldest daughter of the late Dr. Leon Jacobs and Mildred (Mael) Jacobs of Quincy, MA. In addition Miriam was the oldest of a large number of cousins who spent many childhood times together on the Mael family farm in Millis, MA surrounded by her great-grandfather, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Married to Phil for 54 years their life-long relationship actually started in the first floor corridor of Central Junior High School in Quincy in 1962. Miriam went on to receive a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and later a Masters Degree in Nursing from Boston College. Miriam rose to the position of Nurse Manager of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston where she practiced for more than 25 years. She followed this with bedside and teaching positions at Mass General and Brigham & Women’s hospitals. She later collaborated with other peers in education and training programs at hospitals throughout the Northeast. Her knowledge translated into several published articles as well as national award recognition. Among her many contributions was a speech delivered to doctors and nurses in Tokyo, Japan where she discussed the cultural distinctions between Japanese and U.S. treatment of “death and dying”.

Throughout her life Miriam was able to successfully balance family and professional obligations. Her passion for life and her desire to make the world a better place for all is most exemplified in her daughter and grandson. She was awed, humbled and so proud with what they have accomplished, how they treated their friends and strangers and took so much strength knowing that they will carry on their lives with the same dignity, compassion and decency that she emphasized.

Residing in Marshfield, MA for almost 50 years Miriam in later years had the time to develop strong relationships with her fellow golfers and book club members who inspired her and kept her apprised of current events in the community. No more so than Kathy Sheehan who walked with her diligently throughout the past two years….on the streets of Marshfield, the aisles at Lowes and the near empty hallways of the Kingston Mall when too cold or wet to walk outside.

Totally retiring in 2020 Miriam settled on Charleston, SC as a winter home where she could bike, golf, swim and walk the beaches of Seabrook Island. There she was warmly welcomed into the community and spent leisurely hours discussing books and assisting in Passover Seders, Hanukkah parties and Shabbos dinners.  True friends who continued to support and encourage her as her health worsened.

While standing in the warm waters at Seabrook just days before her diagnosis she said “this has to be a dream….it is so perfect…we are so lucky.”

For two years with the help of nurses, doctors and friends Miriam fought an illness without a cure. Good days and optimism…bad days and disappointment. But as was her way she was more concerned about how this was affecting others rather than concern about her own health and future.

When she knew the battle was nearing the end she accepted but did not welcome the verdict. She still had more to do. More people to share time with. More love and respect to give to others.

As Phil remarked at her eulogy:

“Tom Waits, the grizzled folk singer and actor early in his career wrote the song “I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You”. While the lyrics of the song in no way tell the story of our lives together, the title can be interpreted in many ways. The title has a special meaning to me.

Falling in love can lead to pain, disappointment, rejection or life-long sorrow. It can also be the greatest experience one can encounter. For me falling in love and fighting to deserve that love in return and taking the risk of being rejected was the best decision of my life. The pain is so strong today but it would be so much worse if I had not known and shared a life with such a wonderful companion.

I fell in love with Miriam the first day I saw her smiling, tanned face and brown hair with just a wisp of sun bleached blonde highlights walking toward me in that Central Junior High School corridor. I have loved her every day since and will so forever. “

Miriam’s funeral service will be held at noon, Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Schlossberg Family’s Chapel on the Hill, 824 Washington St., Canton, MA, with interment to follow at Sharon Memorial Park.

Shiva will be observed at her late residence in Marshfield on Thursday from 6-8:30PM and continuing on Friday from noon through 4PM.

In lieu of flowers donations to BIDMC, Clifford Scholar Award Endowment, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, 1112 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043; Croi Health, 120 Longwater Drive, Norwell, MA 02061.

Sara Miriam Greenspan Funeral Service

Zoom link (see below)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5288320605?pwd=dVFjQlUzWmVDYmFhVGwwZkNVSXBLQT09&omn=81796821170

will be activated at 11:45AM

(15 minutes prior to the start of the service)

As a courtesy to the Greenspan family, it is imperative that upon entry into Zoom, kindly ensure that your microphone is properly muted, so as not to affect the audio or video stream.

~ Thank You ~