Sarah "Sally" McGann , RN C , Ret. of Vero Beach, FL, formerly of Aquebogue, NY –Well known and highly respected nurse in the Vero Beach medical community, Sa lly died peacefully on December 4 , 2020 . She was a resident of Fairlane Harbor, Vero Beach for 20 years. Succumbing to Alzheimer's Disease, she passed while in the care of VNA Hospice in the Consulate Nursing Care Facility in Vero Beach.

Born to Margaret and Joseph Cooney in Akron, Ohio, on July 27,1940, Sally attended Akron grammar schools and graduated from Copley High School in 1958. After a brief stint as an executive secretary at nearby Babcock and Wilcox Corporation, a travel "itch" kicked in and in 1960 she obtained a coveted position as Stewardess with Eastern Air Lines. After extensive training in Miami, Sally was assigned to New York's La Guardia Airport where she leased an apartment in nearby Jackson Heights, Queens . In 1961, she met Jeff McGann a Forest Hills, Queens college man with airline career ambitions. After a whirlwind courtship they eloped to North Carolina on January 22, 1962. At that time, stewardesses were not permitted to be married so they decided to take a leap to the west coast as Jeff had an opportunity with Pacific Airline s in Sacramento, CA. A number of career postings sent them to live in several cities in California and Las Vegas, NV, producing two daughters along the way. After five years, Jeff's career returned them to Long Island, New York where their third daughter was born. Avid boaters, they found a waterfront home in Aquebogue, on Long Island's fabled North Fork.

Sally was a superlative, traditional stay-at-home Mom until the girls completed high school when another "itch" kicked in ….. this one to go to college. She e nrolled at Suffolk County Community College where she proudly earned a degree in nursing ; g raduat ing with honors at the age of 4 5.

In her first nursing position , Sally was honored to be recruited to work at the prestigious Stony Brook University Hospital in their world-renowned psychiatry department. By 1989, having become empty-nesters, Jeff and Sally relocate d to sunny Florida where they continued their respective careers . In Vero Beach, Sally embarked on her long and rewarding nursing career . She was the Home Care Psychiatric Specialist for the Vero Beach VNA , served as Head Nurse at Vero Beach Psychiatric Institute and, finally, served as Assessment and Referral Manager for I ndian R iver M emorial H ospital's (now Cleveland Clinic) Behavioral Health Center in the ER until her retirement in 2009.

Sally loved the beach and boating on both Long Island and in Florida. She was a skilled navigator and first mate for Captain Jeff. O ne of her favorite life experiences was taking their classic 36 ' Egg H a r bor Sedan Cruiser "Sky l ark" down the I ntra- C oastal W aterway from New York to Florida . She enjoyed i nternational travel , cruis ing the local Florida waterways on Sky l ark as well as commercial cruising the Caribbean and Central America. An active member

of the US Power Squadron and Forest Hills Club , Sally also volunteered at the Vero Beach Humane Society and Youth Sailing Foundation. After retirement she was a daily visitor to Vero Beach Dog Park with her husband Cap and beloved rescue " Lexy " .

Sally was a devoted , loving mother and wife to her family and a highly s killed, dedicated nurse. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to know her.

Sally, predeceased by her parents and brother Charlie ( Liz ) Cooney of Mansfield, Ohio is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 59 years Jeffrey M. "Cap" McGann and three daughters Yvonne (Tim) O'Shea of Victor, NY and Naples, FL , Jennifer Bove of Vero Beach and Diana (Matthew) Sobel of Orange, CA; four grandsons Collin and Trevor (Alex) O'Shea and Jeffrey and Kent Bove; her brothers Mike (Wendy) O'Leary and Tim (Paula) O'Leary and sister Jan (Carl) Wyatt; and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date .

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County, PO Box 612, Vero Beach FL 32961 .