Edward J. Sarton ’68

Jay died Oct. 12, 2025, in Scarborough, Maine, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 

He came to us from Arlington (Mass.) High School, where he played ice hockey and baseball. At Princeton, Jay was active in Orange Key, IAA, and was a research assistant. He majored in mechanical and aerospace engineering and belonged to Dial Lodge. Senior year he roomed with Benica, Cory, Gershon, and Drakos in Dodge-Osborne. 

Following graduation, Jay earned a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Southern California. He was an educator in every way; he spent the bulk of his professional career teaching math, physics, and astronomy with passion and humor to students of all ages, and his personal life coaching youth soccer, baseball, and softball. He conducted planetarium shows at Griffith Observatory in California, taught at Phillips Andover Academy, and in 1982 began his longtime work at Kopernik Observatory in Vestal, N.Y. 

He later became a professor at University of Southern Maine and had his own science education consulting business. His love of all New England sports he passed down to his children. In retirement, he spent considerable time camping, hiking, kayaking, and gardening. 

The class extends its deepest sympathies to his wife of 55 years, Cheri; his children Christopher, Matthew ’98, Adam, and Katherine; and his four grandchildren.