Steven Charles Sandy

Steve fought a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease and passed away peacefully at home on

June 1, 2023. Steve is survived by Sabra (loving wife of nearly 35 years and caregiver),

Bradford Harris (brother-in-law) and many dear cousins. Preceding Steve in death were Leroy

Sandy (father), Jean Sandy (mother), Glen Harris (father-in-law), and Doris Sanders (mother-in-law).

There will be a private burial, but no funeral service or visitation. A family get together in

Michigan for Steve’s cousins will be arranged.

Steve was born on December 4, 1953. With his father’s guidance, Steve achieved the rank of

Eagle Scout (Tribe of Mic-O-Say) as a Hardway Warrior. He graduated from Oak Park High

School and attended William Jewell College where he obtained a business degree.

Steve’s first foray into newspaper advertising was with The Wichita Eagle-Beacon from

October 1978 - 1984 where he served a diverse clientele of retail merchants with their

advertising plans in several capacities, including Retail Advertising Account Manager, CO-OP

Advertising Program Manager, and Retail Sales Manager of the “Neighbors” zone editions. It

was at The Wichita Eagle-Beacon that Steve developed a decades long friendship with his

colleague, Rick Bryant, who later served as Best Man at Steve’s wedding to Sabra.

Steve then joined The Kansas City Star where he continued his retail advertising career as an

Account Executive for an additional 30 years and developed numerous close friendships with

his colleagues. Steve’s greatest professional challenge (and most fun) at The Star was

managing the Kansas City area shopping center accounts. He handled each mall’s advertising

needs with his usual gusto, professionalism, and attention to detail.

Steve’s favorite travel destinations included Russia, Finland, Iowa, Michigan, Tucson, and

Chicago. Steve enjoyed reading historical non-fiction, baking his famous beer bread, viewing

documentaries on The History Channel, watching 1950’s Sci-Fi movies, following politics, and

building space shuttle models (until Sabra knocked one over and broke it). Steve’s all-time

favorite movies were Dr. Zhivago, Shoes of the Fisherman, The Blues Brothers, and Them!

Steve helped resettle many Russian Refugees through The Don Bosco Centers and also

volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Special Friendships:

Rick & Donna Bryant and Family

Jean Davis

Valentina Koleci

Khalid & Musarrat Hussain and Family

Chris & Ashley Masoner and Family

Mark, Lauren, Easton, and Deacon Berryman

Steve’s Kansas City Star Family

Sabra’s J. E. Dunn Construction Family

The Tikanmaki Family

The Kapitannikov, Chlenov, and Kuntorovsky Families

Valued Care Team:

Dr. Rajesh Pahwa, Dr. Thomas Whittaker, Dr. Russell Swerdlow, Dr. James McDonald, Dr. Scott

Kuennen, Dr. Daniel Gilstrap, Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, Right at Home, North

Kansas City Hospital Home Health and Outpatient Rehab, CVS Zona Rosa Pharmacy Team,

Fireman Transport, Gerry Optical, and McGilley Antioch Chapel.

Special thanks and appreciation are extended to Dr. Lawrence Kovac (Northland Mobile

Veterinary Clinic) for his exceptional care of Steve’s first Russian Blue kitty (Larissa) and his

present Russian Blue kitties (Anna and Riva) who were the loves of Steve’s life (after Sabra, of

course).

If anyone wishes to make a donation in Steve’s memory, below are a few ideas:

• Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care - www.kchospice.org

• KU Medical Center - Checks Payable to: KU Endowment, Memo Line: Parkinson’s Disease

Mailing Address:

Dr. Rajesh Pahwa

University of Kansas Medical Center

Department of Neurology

3599 Rainbow Blvd.

Mail Stop 3042

Kansas City, KS 66160

Questions? Contact: Dr. Kelly Lyons (913) 588-7159 / [email protected],

• Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter - www.parkvilleshelter.com

• Any charity that is special to you.

Your love, friendship and support meant everything to Steve. May we all carry Steve’s memory

forward in our hearts by emulating his courage, sense of humor, and compassion for others.