Sandra Lee Rexroat, 72, died peacefully on May 8, 2021 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In the 1980s and 90s, Sandra headed the Office of Sponsored Funds at the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Sandra was born April 13, 1949 in Ponca City, OK. At a very young age, she acquired the love of books and reading. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Friends University, Wichita and her master’s at Rhode Island College where she began a career that spanned more than 40 years in college administration.
While at Rhode Island College, she met and married John (“Jack”) O’ Neill who predeceased her. She left RIC for SUNY New Paltz and thereafter Metropolitan State University in Denver, followed by Texas A&M University (formerly Texas A&I) in Kingsville.
After her retirement she and her daughter Amy enjoyed many travel adventures. Closer to her home in Kingsville, Sandra invested much of her time addressing the significant homeless pet population. She began a program of rescue and TNR (trap-neuter-return) of cats from her neighborhood. And she read, watched, listened and learned continuously whether it be Harry Potter, American or ancient history, PBS, astrophysics lectures, the Pentatonix or opera.
Sandra is survived by her daughter Amy O’Neill (fiancé John O’Keefe) who at the time of her death was at her bedside, her brother Barney, her mother Philomena and many wonderful neighbors and friends collected over a lifetime of smiles, fun, laughter and good deeds.
She was cremated, according to her wishes and a memorial service will be held by her family in the future. Friends are asked to honor her by reading a good book, supporting their local library or by adopting a homeless pet.
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