Last fall, the FWSF community lost a long-time member—Sara Grossman—who died in November at age 91. Sara personified attributes to which FWSF aspires in her perseverance in following her path to become a leader in finance when that was often unheard of for women and to mentor and help others along the way.
When we reached out to the members who knew Sara, they told a story fit for Hollywood.
A midwestern girl married in the 50s and widowed early with three young children, Sara went back to school later in life (in her 50s) and earned a degree in finance to support her family. She worked in the field for a long time, joining FWSF along the way. “She had many stories of the ‘old’ days where there were few women in finance,” we’re told by one FWSF member who knew her well.
“You’ll have to wake up an hour earlier in the morning if you want to keep up with the men in the industry while staying feminine,” she told another. The common refrain? She was always willing to help and go the extra mile.
Sandra Vedadi
Portfolio Manager, Verition Fund Management
2009 FWSF Scholarship Recipient
I first met Sara Grossman in the spring of 2009 during my interviews for the FWSF Scholarship program. That year, the FWSF President was Laura Pilz, Anne Chambers oversaw the Scholarship program, and Sara Grossman served as a Committee Chair overseeing Mentoring.
Having just arrived in Berkeley from France, I was experiencing quite a bit of culture shock and had to adjust to an entirely new environment. After being awarded the scholarship, I was warmly welcomed into the FWSF family, and Sara provided incredible support through the mentorship program. She connected me with mentors in highly esteemed positions, including those at the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco or on trading floors at top investment banks. At the time, I was probably too young to fully appreciate how fortunate I was to be introduced to such influential mentors.
But Sara didn’t stop at just matching me with mentors. She went above and beyond, introducing me to many people and always being there to lend a listening ear whenever I faced personal or professional challenges. She tried her best to make me feel at home in California.
A few days before my graduation, Sara invited me to lunch at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, and I always think of her when I pass by that restaurant. I was honored to have her attend my graduation ceremony at Berkeley, where my family had the pleasure of meeting her and were deeply impressed by her elegance and class.
Upon graduation, I moved to New York to begin my job on Wall Street. I kept in touch with Sara. Despite the physical distance, whenever I reached out to her, even after experiencing some personal struggles, she would always respond immediately and offer her guidance with a phone call.
Please join us in remembering a financial woman who embodied so much of what makes this group what it is—a desire to help, the bravery to forge a new path and then help others along it, and the willingness to always go the extra mile.
From Connections Newsletter: April 2025