Kenneth Maurice Sanchagrin

Kenneth Maurice Sanchagrin, 85, of Moore, SC passed away peacefully on February 4, 2024 with his loving wife, Mary, at his side after battling a long illness. They spent most of their life together in the mountains of North Carolina where they had their home in Mars Hill for over 40 years. Born on November 16, 1938 in River Rouge, Michigan, he was the son of the late Kenneth Solomon Sanchagrin and Monica Maurice. He had degrees from Sacred Heart Seminary and Glenmary Seminary, as well as he studied Theology at St. John’s Seminary and the University of Notre Dame. He obtained a PhD in Sociology from Wayne State University in 1979. He was hired as a Sociology professor at Mars Hill College in 1971 and taught there until his retirement in 2004. Throughout Ken’s life, his passions were his family, his students and teaching, and his faith which was reflected in the work he did and the many projects he was involved in. After leaving the Seminary he became a community organizer with the North Carolina Poverty Project. He was instrumental in designing and creating the Social Work program at MHC; he served on the Board of the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and served as the Director of the Research Center for Glenmary Home Missioners in Nashville, TN. For many years he was the Director of the Hester Center for Peace and Justice at Mars Hill College. Ken was also instrumental in helping to establish St Andrews the Apostle Catholic Church in Mars Hill and was very active in church ministry. But most of all, he was a loving husband and father and Papa to his grandchildren. He often said that his children were his greatest legacy, but his influence reached farther than just his children and grandchildren. He was a gifted teacher and made a tremendous impact on many students and colleagues at Mars Hill College. His entire life was dedicated to teaching and serving others through education and example. He worked to foster “acceptance and care where there is difference” and inspired this in others, to quote a dear friend. Ken leaves behind many who will miss him including, Mary, his loving wife of 57 years, twin daughters, Yancey Crawford (Tom) of Blacksburg, VA and Kathryn “Kitty” Googer (Greg) of Moore, SC and two sons, Kenneth J. Sanchagrin (Jamie) of Silverton, OR and Stephen Sanchagrin (Jennifer) of Leander, TX, as well as his sister Ann Mackey (Larry) from Allen Park, MI; grandchildren: Jack Googer (Lindsey) of Hendersonville, NC, Natalie Googer of Mt Pleasant, SC, Alex Googer of Moore, SC, Monica Crawford of St Paul, MN, Erin Crawford of Richmond, VA, Ginny Crawford of Blacksburg, VA, Kenneth and Emmeline Sanchagrin of Silverton, OR and Landon, Finley, Noah and Luke Sanchagrin of Leander, TX. A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will take place at 11:00am on Monday, February 12, 2024 at St Eugene Catholic Church in Asheville, NC followed by a graveside service at Mars Hill Baptist Cemetery with reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall of Broyhill Chapel on the campus of Mars Hill University from 12:30-3:00. This will be a time to share stories and visit with the family. The family would like to thank Comfort Keepers Home Care of Spartanburg, including David Coker, Kelly Wilson, Bernice Kennedy, Daniella Scott, Asia Gray and Ada Graber, and Interim Hospice of Spartanburg/Greenville for caring for Ken at the end of his life. In lieu of flowers and in honor of Ken, memorial contributions may be made to the Mars Hill University Scholarship Fund, PO Box 6792, Mars Hill, NC 28754 or www.mhu.edu/giving or to CurePSP at https://www.psp.org/iwanttolearn/progressive-supranuclear-palsy/.