Sandra Strickland

Sandra L. Strickland, 79, passed away peacefully at home on September 28, 2022 as a result of acute complications after a long illness. Sandra was Born in Pittsburgh in 1943  to Mary Lou Kuntz and her husband, Lt. Lester White. She was later adopted by Lt. Marshall Groover when her mother remarried after Lt. White was killed in the WWII. Sandra graduated from high school with honors from St. Mary's academy in Alexandria, VA where she meet her future husband, Robert. She briefly attended Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. before marrying  in June 1961. Sandra and Robert moved frequently as the latter served a military obligation and then worked for Hughes Aerospace. Sandra's two children were born in Alexandria, VA and Madison, WI.

Sandra moved to Syracuse in 1970 when Robert began graduate studies at Syracuse University, and the family has remained here ever since. Sandra continued her college education at Syracuse University and graduated with honors in 1975 with dual degrees in psychology and art history. She also studied graduate sociology at Syracuse University for a year. After her children were in school, she worked as a bookkeeper for Roy's Furniture, Barlow Johnson advertising agency and Haylor, Freyer and Coon insurance agency. She studied accounting at Briggs and Stratton during this time. She retired in 1992 due a painful medical condition that she bore with courage and good humor until her recent death from kidney failure.

Greatly beloved by her husband and children, Sandra was appreciated by all her employers for her work ethic, dedication, attention to detail, and team spirit. Those who came to know her well were impressed and inevitably influenced by her unwavering support, good humor and kindness. Many of Sandra's work associates continued to maintain close contact with her after her retirement, often citing her kindness as instrumental in helping them through difficult times in their own lives.

To her children, Sandra was an "unbelievably wonderful mother." She meet their developmental hurdles, problems and potentials, with intuitive wisdom and love that earned her their undying gratitude and affection. The children's peer group friends were also drawn to her, many of them calling her their second mother or just "Mom" for short. She provided unwavering support and strength to her husband during his graduate school training and subsequent work as an independent clinical psychologist. Sandra and Robert had just celebrated their 61 anniversary this past June.

Sandra is survived by her husband, Robert G. Strickland, of 61 years , her daughter Tracey A. Picket and son-in-law, Thaddeus, and her son, Alan. J. Strickland and her brother Alan Groover of Pittsburgh, Pa.

There are no calling hours. There will be a traditional memorial service at the Zen Center of Syracuse on Seneca Turnpike in the Valley on November 17th at 6:00pm. Those who wish to attend this service are welcomed in gratitude for the support that has been extended to the family during these finishing days of Sandra's life.