EASTHAMPTON, MA – Sandra Lee (Desorcy) Richards, 62, of Summit Avenue, passed on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at her home. Born in Holyoke, February 4, 1951, Sandie was the daughter of the late Rene B. and Lillian (Millen) Desorcy.She grew up and received her early education in West Springfield where she graduated from West Springfield High School. She later served in the Air National Guard before continuing her education, first at STCC and later at Westfield State College where she received her bachelor’s degree. Sandie was retired from the Traveler’s Insurance Company in Hartford, CT where she worked as a computer programmer and business analyst. Prior to that, she had worked as a respiratory therapist at Health South in Ludlow, MA and also in the field of video training production for General Electric Aerospace. She attended the Unitarian Society of Northampton.
Sandie was happiest when she was socializing with her friends and family. She loved outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, cross country skiing, horseback riding and kayaking. Her love of travel took her on numerous trips to faraway places including Scotland, England, Ireland, Bermuda, San Francisco, the Yosemite, Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, and Disney World. She also loved closer-to-home road trips out to Provincetown for whale watching and shows, weekends in Vermont, hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and exploring the many beautiful beaches and towns of coastal Maine. Equally, Sandie loved quiet days and evenings at home, reading, drinking tea, watching birds, listening to music, and visiting with family and friends. She loved animals and easily established trust and affection with them. Some of the qualities Sandie was deeply beloved and will always be remembered for, were her enthusiasm for life, her courageous spirit, can-do attitude, love of laughter, her curiosity and love of learning, her warmth, gentleness, kindness, and her love of helping others.
Sandie is survived by her spouse, Theresa O’Connor; her sister, Sue Kingsley and her husband Bob of Huntington, MA; three nephews, Robert Kingsley, III and his wife Mindy of Montgomery, MA, Greg Kingsley and his wife Kim of Southwick, MA, and David Kingsley of Westfield, MA and her great-nieces and great-nephews, Leah, Rachel, Larissa, Sean, Brandon, Aidan, Allison and Samantha.
A celebration of Sandie’s life will be held Saturday, September 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Society of Northampton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Therapeutic Equestrian Center, 537 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040 or to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101-6307.
