Sara Tanke died peacefully at her home in Menlo Park after a year-long struggle with lung cancer. Her son John Tanke took great care of her during this time.
Born in Fayette, Missouri to Clara Elizabeth Gallemore Mealy and Harold George Mealy, Sara was the oldest of three children. When she was 10, the family moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where her father joined the music faculty of Idaho State University. Sara was immersed in music throughout her life. She trained in piano at Oberlin College before moving to San Francisco in 1959. There she met and married Gene Tanke, and their son John was born two years later. Sara lived the rest of her life in the Palo Alto area, where she taught English as a Second Language for many years at the Sequoia District Adult School.
Together with her brother George and sister Frances, she took genealogy research trips to the United Kingdom and the eastern United States. A lifelong choral music enthusiast, Sara sang for several decades with the California Bach Society, the Bay Choral Guild, and the Congregational Oratorio Society.
She was a close friend to many because of her multiple interests, lively personality and sharp intellect. In addition to participating in a genealogy writng group and a play-reading group, she enjoyed visiting art museums, going to plays, and listening to classical music concerts. She was a devoted volunteer at the Music@Menlo festival every summer.
In addition to her son, Sara is survived by her sister, Frances Anne (Mealy) Moore, and nieces and nephews Brian Moore, Kevin Moore, Laura (Moore) Bruneau, Kendra (Mealy) Wilk, Max Mealy and Eva Mealy. Sara’s friends and family are invited to remember her at Redwood City Women’s Club on November 7, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
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