Obituary of Sandra Joy Maller

Sandra Joy Maller, age 82, passed away Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at home, surrounded by her loving family and friends.  Sandy was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of totally devoted parents, Samuel and Rose Fralick.  She had a wonderful childhood, spending her summers at Camp Big Chief, a children’s camp in Racine, Wisconsin, owned and operated by her parents. Sandy attended Sullivan High School where her Father was a teacher and also coached the football, basketball, baseball, and track teams, while Sandy cheered alongside him as captain of the cheerleading squad.  She graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Physical Education, and was a cheerleader, member of Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority and while attending the University enjoyed a bit of national fame with her appearance in a movie short produced by 20th Century Fox called, “Punts and Stunts”. 

Sandy met her husband, the love of her life, Donald, a veteran, future lawyer, and wonderful father, as he was standing outside of her sorority house one day.  Due to her naturally outgoing personality, Sandy invited Don in for lunch.  Later, she was surprised to learn that not only was he handsome, but that he was also Jewish, making her parents very happy.  Sandy and Don just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 22nd, 2017, and during those 60 years, they raised two daughters, Danna, a member of the first Graduating Class of women to attend the United Stated Military Academy at West Point and Stacy, a graduate of San Jose State University, a former Miss San Jose, and participant in the Miss California Pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant.  Stacy was also the Founder and President of the first Delta Phi Epsilon Chapter at Towson State University, her mother’s sorority.

Sandy began her career as a PE teacher and later received her MA in Library Sciences, becoming one of the best librarians as she made going to the library an exciting and fun experience for all the patrons big and small. Sandy loved life and brought “Joy” to everyone she touched.  She loved to travel, dance, enjoyed playing and singing show tunes with her daughters at the piano, and was a voracious reader and movie collector.  She later thoroughly loved sharing all of those things with her granddaughter, Jackie. She especially loved spending time with her family and friends. Along with her husband, Donald, and daughters, Danna and Stacy, Sandy is survived by her granddaughter Jackie, son-in-law Bill Tobin, Ciara Tobin, and Christian Tobin.  

The family would like to thank Sandy's amazing caregivers for helping her with such devotion:  Sara, Heather, Allie, Fatemeh, Glad and June.

A memorial service will he held on Saturday, Jan. 20th at 2 pm at the Catricala Funeral Home at 1597 Route 9, Clifton Park, NY 12065  There will be a luncheon to follow at the Park Manor Hotel, 7 Northside Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (https://imaginationlibrary.com/shop) or the American Cancer Society