Sandra F. Burleigh

Sandra F. Burleigh (nee Froyd)
March 4, 1939 – April 8, 2021

Sandy Burleigh of Crofton, Maryland passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 8, 2021.   She loved her family deeply and always cherished being in their company.  Sandy is survived by her three children: Scott Burleigh (Chris), David Burleigh (Kate) and Missy Donato (Joe); and seven grandchildren:  Megan, Gabriella, Anthony, Will, Colin, Andrew and Sam.  She was predeceased by her parents, Howard and Mildred Froyd, and brother Fred.

Sandy was born in Chicago and spent her childhood in the city developing a passion for reading and education, as well as fostering a deep love of baseball and the Chicago Cubs.  After graduating from Northwestern University in 1960 with a degree in speech, Sandy married Russell Burleigh and moved to Florida to begin raising a family.  After her three children were born, the family moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine in 1969, where Sandy lived until retiring to Crofton, MD in 2003.  Sandy received her masters degree in special education from the University of Southern Maine in 1980 and became a fixture at the Cape Elizabeth Schools teaching special education for over 30 years until her retirement.

A kind and gentle soul, Sandy had a keen intellect, a sharp sense of humor and a gift for service.  She was an avid reader and lover of games where she would take anyone on in a friendly/competitive game of Scrabble (and more recently, Words with Friends).  She loved to connect through games with her children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews online.  Throughout her life, Sandy lovingly followed her children’s and grandchildren’s athletic endeavors and was always a super-fan cheering them on at their baseball, soccer, football, taekwondo and other games.  In her retirement, she developed a real talent for creating stained glass and cross-stitch, and this beautiful art often adorned her and her family’s walls and windows.  A lifelong teacher, Sandy loved working with children and shared her reading education expertise by volunteering for many years at the STAIR literacy program in Crofton.

Sandy was very active in her retired life, and loved to spend time with her friends either at the gym, the senior center or church. She was very involved in the Prince of Peace Church community by serving as a deacon, teaching vacation bible school, volunteering at the book sale or with the kids backpack programs. She loved learning about history and was a frequent attendee at the Forum speaking program offered by the church. She also loved the history class taught by the senior center which involved field trips to many historical sites in Maryland. Sandy loved to travel and took many trips with her friends to fun locations. She was an avid sun worshiper and in the summer you could often find her at the pool or the beach.

Sandy will be greatly missed by all who loved her.  A celebration of life is planned for May 8, 2021 for family at Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church in Crofton, MD.   If you are unable to attend, the Church will be live streaming the celebration of life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR) literacy program that is sponsored by the Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church in Crofton.

https://stairannapolis.org/give/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=x48eZsUjMebqUfJOifER1oo_2jGJtbxbebXWWyqbG0PO1c5z5Z4vlKMTkmwVJwOZeZSKepK4ndsOWWFN

Start The Adventure In Reading-Annapolis
171 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, MD 21401