Sept. 7, 1945 — Jan. 10, 2025
Roberta B. Kent, 79, died peacefully of natural causes on Jan. 10, at home in Friday Harbor, Washington.
Roberta was born in New York City on Sept. 7, 1945, an only child, to the late Robert B. and Rose L. Kent.
She graduated from New York University with a degree in history, and went on to be in the first women’s class at Princeton where she earned a master’s degree and completed Ph.D. coursework in medieval history.
Roberta became a successful literary agent in New York and Los Angeles. She was an accomplished cook and catered for events in L.A. as a fun side gig. In 1991 Roberta relocated to Ashland, where she applied her many skills as a legal assistant, a wine critic and a theater critic.
In Ashland, she met Russell Sadler and they became great friends and a devoted couple. He introduced her to Washington’s San Juan Islands, and they moved to Friday Harbor permanently in 2015. They married aboard the Tillicum ferry on June 26, 2021.
Soon after settling on the island, Roberta enjoyed much success as a real estate agent for Sotheby’s, retiring in early 2024. Roberta is survived by her husband, Russell K. Sadler; two cousins, Alan Berger of North Carolina and Craig Berger of Maryland; her sweet and loyal Havanese, named Xisca; and many faithful friends from her long and storied life.
Roberta and Russell’s ashes will be tossed into the Salish Sea off a Washington State Ferry. Donations in Roberta’s memory can be made to Hospice of the Northwest at hospicenw.org.
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