It is with profound sadness we announce the untimely passing of Sabrina Seay Clauss-Ehlers of Warwick and New York, NY, at the age of 19 on March 9, 2025, due to heart failure related to natural causes.
Born in New York City on July 12, 2005, Sabrina (aka Beanie) was bright, funny, and sassy. Her spirit and way of viewing the world sought to promote fairness and belonging. She showed her compassion for the world last summer, when she said, “People have a big problem with people being who they are.”
Sabrina always wanted to be the middle child, a dream that was realized as the younger sister of Isabel Seay Clauss-Ehlers (Izzy) and much later, becoming the older sister of Olliver Edward Clauss-Ehlers, whom she asked to call her Bobo the Unicorn due to her imagination and love of unicorns. To this day we call Sabrina “Bobo.”
Sabrina graduated high school as class valedictorian. She was a first-year student at Pace University and a resident on its Manhattan campus. A university press release described her as someone who “excelled academically, was a strong self-advocate and wonderful friend… who cared deeply for her friends and loved ones. She was committed to improving the world and her spirit sparkled.” Sabrina was a proud member of the Pace Ongoing Academic Social Instructional Support (OASIS) program that is dedicated to supporting neurodiverse college students, including those who identify with autism spectrum disorder and other learning disabilities.
At Pace, Sabrina was interested in film studies, psychology, and business; she also enjoyed baking and all genres of music. Sabrina played electric bass guitar and studied cello for 11 years. Her love of animals was evident in her work at a kennel, her qualification as a foster caregiver for the ASPCA, and her adoration for the family dog, a Newfoundland called Luna. Sabrina also thrived at her job as a hostess at The Russian Tea Room in Midtown, where she was a respected and valued member of the team.
Sabrina’s spirit and spark will forever be cherished by her parents, Julian and CC, Izzy and Olliver, and her maternal grandfather, Harold W. Clauss.
A private tribute service to honor the life of Sabrina has been arranged.
In lieu of flowers, the family has started a GoFundMe to create a program in partnership with Pace University and the OASIS program honoring neurodiverse students. You can click here to make a donation.