In loving memory of Sage Sevilla
6/12/1955 - 4/21/2024
Joyce "Sage" Margarita Sevilla, was born on June 12, 1955 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to Rev. Miguel de Sevilla, a Lutheran Minister and Lorraine Wiggins, a prodigious pianist and missionary. She was the youngest of three. Due to her father’s mission work of cultivating the Puerto Rican Lutheran communities in various church parishes, the family lived in a variety of locations such as St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, Camden, New Jersey, Chicago and finally settling in Brooklyn, New York.
Joyce attended Music & Art HS, where she excelled at playing the cello. After graduating high school in 1973, she attended Yale University as one of the first groups of women to be admitted. She graduated with a B.A. in African American Studies and Education.
In February of 1984, Joyce married Tom Morillo. Not long after, they welcomed their son, Giancarlo. In 1986, their small family grew after Joyce and Tom decided to take in Tom’s daughter from a previous marriage, Stephanie (9), and her brothers Joseph (7) and Jason (3). Almost overnight, Joyce became a loving mother of four children while balancing the start of her long career in education. She received her M.A. in English Education from Columbia University Teachers College, and taught in private, public, and parochial schools, during her children’s elementary school years.
In 1995, Joyce began her career at Dalton as a fifth grade house advisor teaching the core subjects. In 2001, she shifted from the classroom to administration in a variety of roles that expanded her person-centered approach. Spearheading curriculum development in pro-social skills as Coordinator of Social & Emotional Learning (K-12) and advanced school-wide diversity skills, strategic planning and programming for students, parents, faculty & staff as Director of Diversity at the Dalton School. During this time she completed a degree in clinical social work from New York University.
After almost two decades at Dalton, Joyce entered a new direction with a new mission, she became a Lecturer/Professor at Hostos - CUNY, teaching Psychology and Sociology in the Behavioral and Social Sciences. She also started her own clinical therapeutic practice and consultancy, SAGE Consultancy, providing counsel to families and children. Additionally, she served as mentor and board member of Y Tu Tambien, a Yale University Latino Alumni mentoring program for aspiring NYC high school students of color applying to Ivy League colleges.
Music had a profound effect on Joyce’s life. She was a pianist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and most recently a recording artist. In 2012, she released her first EP - Red Classic: “Angel” with her band Sage deSevilla.
Joyce’s private side was as vibrant and healing as her professional self. She had a holistic approach to nutrition and cooking but in rare times made room for her favorite treats, carrot cake or potato chips. Her children always found humor in the need for a salt shaker whenever the warm meal reached the table. She loved her cats Gallimoto and Tiger. Joyce had a deep connection with yoga and meditation. She rarely watched television but even when she had the time to watch her favorite program, Wheel of Fortune, she found a way to avoid the sedentary temptation by enjoying the game show while stretching.
Joyce always wanted to bring people together. There were many holidays when her apartment was filled with not just family, her door would see the entry of a former student she recently bumped into, a friend who was in town, or someone that she didn’t want to see alone on a holiday. Those evenings in her apartment would include food, music and instruments followed by Joyce bringing everyone in a circle holding hands as she always struck the right words to deliver a message of spirituality, finding yourself and allowing yourself to see the path that was intended for you.
She will be remembered as a guiding light that shined onto as many people as she could reach with her everlasting spirit. Joyce is survived by her four children and five grandchildren. Joyce’s family, her dearest friends, students, and colleagues will miss her dearly.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world…”.