Sandra D. Gray

Sandra D. Gray of Claremont, CA passed peacefully at her childhood home in Manchester on December 17, 2024.
She was born June 20, 1963, in Wichita, Kansas to Carolyn D. (Nadeau) Gray and Donald C. Gray.
Sandra is survived by her mother Carolyn D. Gray. Her sister, Kathryn M. Gray (Aaron Burnham) of Hillsboro, NH. Brother, Russell C. Gray of Manchester, CT. Nephews Nathan A. Burnham of Hillsboro, NH and Cooper L. Burnham of St. Paul, MN and niece, Carolyn D. Burnham of Hillsboro, NH. She was predeceased by her father, Donald.
Sandra was a graduate of Manchester High school. She attended the University of Connecticut and Pitzer College in Claremont, CA attaining a Masters of Education.
For the last nineteen years, Sandra was a special education teacher for the Pomona Valley District School System. She was a devoted advocate for children with special needs and found great joy in being part of their lives.
Before becoming a teacher, Sandra was a yoga instructor and a massage therapist working with summer Olympic athletes and Hollywood personnel. She also trained in taekwondo.
She enjoyed nature and was an avid hiker. Her favorite hiking area was Mount Baldy in Southern California. Her most memorable hikes were to Machu Picchu in Peru, the Himalayas in Nepal and to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
A traveler, she loved learning about other cultures and visited thirty-four countries. Her favorite vacation destination was Hawaii, particularly Kauai where she had planned to retire.
A talented artist, she enjoyed sketching and painting for family and friends.
Her family and friends will miss her zest for adventure, her humor and her penchant for challenging us to try something new.
A special thank you to the Visiting Nurse Services of CT Hospice team for their care of her and support of her family during the last few days of her life.
Services will be held in California at the convenience of the family.