THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL
Daytona Beach, Florida
Friday, June 28, 2013


After a five-week struggle to recover from extensive heart valve surgery, Sandra Lee Mincher (a.k.a Sandy), Palm Coast, Florida, formerly of Oswego, New York, died at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida on June 19, 2013. She was 69 years old.

Sandy was born in Everett, Massachusetts on May 11, 1944 to the late Dorothy Tobin and the late William Farr Kelly. Her father was a cameraman for the NBC Network and the family resided in Levittown on Long Island. She was the sister of David Kelly and Karen Kelly.

Sandy was a graduate of Division Avenue High School and was an active musician. She was an outstanding trumpet player and participated with the High School Band. Sandy won the top prize at the Music Association Competition for trumpet.

She attended Oswego State University in Oswego New York and received both BS and MS degrees in Education. Sandy was an outstanding elementary school teacher. She spent most of her 34-year career at Minetto Elementary School where she taught third grade. She touched the lives of many students during her tenure.

She retired in 1999. After retirement, she and her husband John moved to Palm Coast, Florida and she became very active at St Thomas Episcopal Church. Sandy was a Stephen Minister Leader and she served in many other spiritual capacities at the church. Sandy was a wonderful and rare human being. She was always, positive, never angry and she never criticized anyone or found fault. Sandy was a happy and cheerful person and always a delight to be around. Sandy was intensely spiritual. To say she will be missed is a massive understatement

In Florida she became active with Tai Chi and she studied the concert organ. She constantly practiced and filled her house with music. Sandy loved to Square Dance and she and her husband were members of the Flagler Ocean Waves. She enjoyed walking the many trails in Flagler County and she especially loved the Beach. Sandy was a great supporter of the arts and attended many events at Flagler Auditorium. She especially loved watching her gifted daughter perform for the City Repertory Theatre. She and her husband John were dedicated baseball fans and they attended many games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach to watch the Class A Cubs play. They also liked to take cruises and explore the Caribbean with friends.

Her husband John, a retired college professor, her daughter Kelly Nelson, and a teacher at Flagler Palm Coast High School survive Sandy. She also leaves behind a sister Karen Kelly of Flagler Beach, a half brother Gordon Lange-Kelly of Milan Italy and immediate stepdaughters Julia Mincher and Martha Mincher both of DeLand, Florida. She was predeceased by her father and mother as well as her brother and stepfather.

Sandy will be interred in the columbarium in St Thomas Episcopal Church in Palm Cost, Florida. A service will be held in her honor at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Palm Coast, Florida at 11:00 AM on July 16th, 2013. Everyone that knew her is encouraged to attend.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in her name to the Stephen Ministry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. This remarkable person's passing has left a void in the world that can never or will never be filled.