Madeline “Maddy” Marie Sanborn, age 30, of Mercer Island, passed away suddenly on February 15, 2017.

She was the beloved daughter of Patrick Sanborn and Bonnie Sanborn, granddaughter of Charles Sanborn, little sister to Reid and Andy Sanborn, great love to Ben Zielinski, dog-mom to Bari, aunt Maddy to Ryder, Bayden and Parker Sanborn, as well as cousin, niece and friend to so many others.

Maddy was born a fireball on April 22, 1986 in Bellevue, Washington. It was clear from the beginning that her sometimes sweet, sometimes fiery nature would influence much of her life and those around her. She grew up on Mercer Island and had a love for animals and enjoyed the Pacific Northwest whether it was a summer day at the Beach Club, a sailboat trip on the Scotch Mist, or learning how to ski with her Dad at Crystal.

Maddy graduated from Mercer Island High School in 2004 where she was active in cheerleading, National Charity League and made many lifelong friends. She went on to earn a double major in International Economics and Business Administration at Saint Mary’s College of California. While attending college, she spent several semesters abroad and attended Utrecht University in the Netherlands that blossomed a love of world travel. After graduating, she joined Boeing where she organized international airplane deliveries and event planning throughout Europe and Asia, which afforded her the opportunity to see the world at a very young age. Her love of event planning brought her to Microsoft and eventually Amazon, where she held roles of great responsibility. Outside of work she was actively involved in organizing charitable events for the American Cancer Society.

Maddy continued to live her life with the same fiery passion she entered this world with. She made big plans, dreamed big and wasn’t afraid to put in hard work to achieve those goals. She loved Seattle and its charm where she lived in the Bryant neighborhood. Most weekends you would find her applying her design sense to her home, buying and fixing antique furniture, cooking, enjoying the city with Ben and her dog Bari, or catching up with friends or family. As an aunt, she brought much love to her nephews Ryder (“Ryderpants”) and Bayden (“Mr. B”) and niece Parker who will miss her dearly. As a little sister, she made her brothers proud of her many accomplishments and drive to achieve more. As a daughter, she centered her parents’ world and gave them great pride in raising a beautiful young woman with unlimited promise and potential. She will be greatly missed – We love you Maddy!

In celebration of Maddy’s life, an event will be held at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church (3605 84th Ave. SE, Mercer Island) on Thursday, March 2nd at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society where she volunteered.