June 19, 1953 – March 14, 2026
Sarah Ann Gilligan was born to Lorrie and Gene Gilligan on June 19, 1953 in San Francisco, California. She spent much of her youth in the Greenmeadow neighborhood of Palo Alto attending local schools and forming lifelong bonds with a group of friends in the neighborhood. In 1964, her family moved to New Jersey, where she was able to visit the New York World’s Fair.
The family returned back to Palo Alto in 1968, where she graduated from Cubberley High School in 1971. She attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon where she met David Tull, her soon-to-be husband. The couple returned to the Bay Area, married and started a family.
They had their first child, a son, whom they named Stephen in 1978. Three years later her second son, Jonathan, joined the family, and four years after that, a third son, Patrick, was born. Sarah decided that she wanted her kids to grow up in the Palo Alto area, so they settled in a neighborhood near Greenmeadow, where she was raised.
Through a shared love for folk dancing, Sarah met Todd Wagner and remarried. The family settled in nearby Los Altos Hills.
After working as a Certified Public Accountant for many years, she formed her own accountancy corporation that was based in the Midtown neighborhood of Palo Alto. Sarah worked diligently as a CPA for many local firms and individuals, providing insightful technical expertise for her clients over the course of two decades.
Sarah was an avid dancer involved in the local folk-dance community. For over 30 years she taught Hungarian and Transylvanian folk dances with Todd in and around the Palo Alto area. She frequently danced with local groups in the area, and traveled to dance camps throughout the United States and Europe.
She was a Master Gardener, creatively involved with improving local community gardens. She regularly volunteered at Hidden Villa, in Los Altos Hills, leading school children on tours of the farm. Sarah had a passion for being in nature. She travelled the world extensively, sometimes adventurously on her own. She attended the Burning Man festival with her son Jon.
Sarah was a stellar Grandmother to her Grandson Ian.
Those who knew her describe her as carefree, spirited, wise, analytical, strong willed and intuitive. She could always be counted on to help guide her family by these traits. She truly had a good soul.
She was beautiful and she lived a beautiful life. Sarah will be deeply missed.
Sarah is survived by her husband Todd Wagner, sons Jonathan, Stephen, and Patrick Tull, grandson Ian, and brother Bob Gilligan.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date.
