Sandra Leonida

Sandra Carol Leonida, a beautiful soul and fiercely proud mother, passed away on June 8, 2025, at the age of 72. Born on October 29, 1952, in Hempstead, New York, Sandra’s greatest passion and achievement was her close-knit family.

Sandra was born to William Vance and Evelyn Carol Kniffin and grew up in Rockville Centre, New York. As baby sister to Vance and Charles, Sandra loved spending summers with her family at their summer home on Lake Garfield in Monterey, Massachusetts, or at a ball field cheering on Charlie while their mom rang cowbells.

Sandra was as intelligent and driven as she was full of beauty and class. She studied ballet from a young age and cheered at South Side High School. After graduating in 1969, she modeled and worked in Manhattan’s Garment District. In 1973, at age 21, Sandra moved with her parents to Larkspur, Colorado, where she continued to model and joined Johns Manville Corporation, quickly rising to the head of the legal department.

Everything changed in 1980 when Sandra met the love of her life, Dennis Leonida. They married 15 months later in 1982 and were blessed with two sons: Alexander in 1983 and Cole in 1988.

Sandra was the quintessential mother. Guided by her love and values, she left behind a thriving career to raise her beloved boys with wholehearted devotion and unwavering support. She was always the “team mom,” never missing a game. She worked the snack shack, took team photos, and baked her famous Home Run Brownies.

In recent years, Sandra’s greatest joy came from her five cherished grandchildren. She loved to share stories and pictures of her family with anyone who would listen and found immense happiness in giving thoughtful gifts to her grandchildren. She was, and always will be, Nana to Evangeline, Levi, Knox, Arlo, and Bode.

Sandra loved animals of all kinds, from her parakeet, cat, and dogs to her adored grandpuppies. She also had a heart for wildlife and conservation, generously supporting the Jane Goodall Institute, Mercy for Animals, and the Denver Zoo for decades.

A lifelong sports fan, Sandra was especially passionate about baseball and her Denver sports teams, particularly the Nuggets. She also enjoyed traveling with her family, gardening, and spending time at their second home in Perry Park, Colorado.

Sandra never met a stranger, especially if they had a cute dog or a young baby. With a warm and friendly demeanor, she had a rare gift for making people feel seen, known, and deeply cared for, even if they had just met.

Sandi, as she was known to her family and friends, was truly one of a kind and will forever be remembered as a classy, generous, and loving wife, mother, Nana, and friend.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sandra’s favorite charity, World Vision (https://www.worldvision.org/donate).