By Donald A. Collins | 18 August 2025
Church and State
It is with great sadness that we share with you the news that Sally Epstein died on Sunday night, August 17, after a sudden decline in her health. Her passing was peaceful at her beloved home with her loving husband, Don Collins, and children in attendance.
She led a vivid, adventurous century-long life. Underneath her gracious demeanor and generous spirit churned a fierce and determined energy that drove her ever forward.
Sally had an extensive network of family, friends and compatriots in her numerous and varied interests, all of which had a common denominator: make the world a better place for all. She was especially ardent in her belief that women should have control of their own bodies and reproductive schedule in a manner that improved maternal health and the health of children and the health of families.
Sally, in partnership with her former husband, Lionel Epstein, assembled a world renown collection of prints by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. She became a scholar of Munch’s life and times and contributed to the public’s understanding that art could be more than decoration, historical record or religious instruction. It also had value as a vehicle for better self understanding and empathy for others.
An announcement of a celebration of life will be forthcoming in the ensuing weeks.
We are so grateful to each member of her vast community for being part of and contributing to Sally’s passionate, bountiful life.
Sincerely,
The Epstein and Collins Families
Former US Navy officer, banker and venture capitalist, Donald A. Collins, a free lance writer living in Washington, DC, has spent over 50 years working for women’s reproductive health as a board member and/or officer of numerous family planning organizations including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Guttmacher Institute, Family Health International and Ipas. Yale under graduate, NYU MBA. He is the author of “From the Dissident Left: A Collection of Essays 2004-2013”, “Trump Becoming Macbeth: Will our democracy survive?”, “We Humans Overwhelm Our Earth: 11 or 2 Billion by 2100?”, “What Can Be Done Now to Save Habitable Life on Planet Earth?”, “Vote”, “Can Homo Sapiens Survive?”, “Will Choice and Democracy Win?”, “Can Our U.S. Survive 8 Plus Billion of Us”, “Economic Growth: A Cancer on all Earthly Life”, “On the Precipice of Political Disaster in 2024”, “Democracy at Red State Risk”, “Does Trump Go to Jail or to The Oval Office?”, “Trump: Pardon or Punish?: The Nixon Precedence Was Not A Trump Coup Denied!”, “Common Sense: When will Trump be Impeached, Indicted, and Exited?” and “Trump–unrestrained dangerous liar!”.“What Can Be Done Now to Save Habitable Life on Planet Earth?”: https://t.co/fHuh0CG6JD
“We Humans Overwhelm Our Earth: 11 or 2 Billion by 2100?”: https://t.co/TA4j7cp1tE
“From the Dissident Left: A Collection of Essays 2004-2013”: https://t.co/lkC2t3E1A9 pic.twitter.com/bQsL2mLBcO— Church and State (@ChurchAndStateN) November 1, 2021
