Sondra “Sandy” Rumsey Anderson

Born May 26, 1932, in Nutley, N.J., Sandy was the daughter of the late Herbert Rumsey Jr. and the late Rose Francel Rumsey. She was preceded in death by her husband, R. Quintus Anderson; her son, Gerrit Quintus Anderson; and her brother, Herbert Rumsey III.

Sandy spent her school years in Rochester, N.Y., where she graduated from Columbia School for Girls, now Allendale/Columbia. She received an associate’s degree from Bennet Jr. College, after which she met the love of her life, Quint, while he was a senior at Princeton. They were married June 5, 1954, and remained devoted partners for 62 years until Quint’s death in 2016.

While her last years were spent in Vero Beach, her heart was always in western, New York. Sandy and Quint moved to Jamestown, his ancestral home, in 1957. From the beginning of her time in Jamestown, Sandy went to work, not only raising her six children, but immersing herself in the community. With the guidance of her mother-in- law, Cecile Anderson, she joined the leadership team of WCA Hospital and served for many years on the board of directors of both the hospital and Creche.

In the mid 1970s, with all her children in public school, Sandy dove into local politics. She served a five-year term on the Jamestown School Board.

Sandy was a great volunteer, but she was also an entrepreneur. She and her business partner, Mary Blair, opened a franchise of Pappagallo, a women’s shoe and apparel store in 1979 in a small wing of the Green Farm in Lakewood. Pappagallo dressed Chautauqua County ladies for more than a decade.

Sandy thought big and created great things. She was one of the founders of Links Charity, a Pro-Am Golf tournament, now in its 26th year at Moon Brook Country Club. The event has raised over $1.4 million for cancer diagnosis and treatment at WCA.

At home, in their northside neighborhood, Sandy was the “organizer-in- chief.” At 6 p.m., she rang the big school bell on the side of the house, calling her family to dinner. The whole neighborhood ate at 6, because Sandy said it was time. She was famous for her winter ice rinks at 4 Ridgley Terrace. She’d brave the sub-zero January nights to spray a fine mist of water, creating the perfect ice. All the neighborhood kids came — she’d even serve them hot chocolate out of the den window.

There was the “Great Pumpkin” on Halloween, pajamas hanging in the trees for the cast party of “The Pajama Game,” donuts and orange juice in the driveway for the Washington Jr. High band as they practiced parade marching.

Sandy loved competition and sports. She was an avid tennis player, an amazing golfer and driveway basketball star.

Sandy and her “Holy Rollers” bowling team met at the Fountain Bowl every Thursday morning for nearly 20 years. And throughout her life, every Sunday afternoon, Sandy could be found on the sofa, screaming at the television as she cheered on her beloved Buffalo Bills.

Sandy Anderson is survived by five children and their spouses: Heidi Nauleau, Kristin and Barney Bristow, Mitchell Anderson and Richie Arpino, Tracy and David Egan, Brooks and Inger Anderson. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to this year’s Links Charity Pro-Am. Links Charity, PO Box 386, Jamestown NY 14702.