Sandy O’Neill Williams was born May 7, 1944 in Huntington Park, California to John and Pauline O’Neill.  She attended Bryson Avenue Elementary School and was in Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls, where her Mom was the leader of her group with several of our classmates.  In high school, she belonged to many academic clubs, was Homecoming Queen and Prom Princess in 1961, and a member of the PEP Club. She did well in school, was one of the sweetest girls, and a good friend to many.        

Sandy and her husband of 39 years, Keith Williams, moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1994, where they made their home, made friends, danced, explored the USA and hiked most of Tahoe’s wilderness trails.  She joined South Lake Tahoe’s Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra to help those in need and she tirelessly devoted many hours to her projects that helped people and encouraged students.  A lifelong diabetic, she joined the local Diabetes Support Group and Habitat for Humanity.  She worked and retired from Barton Hospital in the Finance Department.

A loving mother to her two children, Jeff LoCicero and Gia LoCicero Schrauben, and grandmother to her three grandchildren, Kyla and Kade Schrauben and Gina LoCicero, she worked in their classrooms, attended their games and functions, and when Gina became a teacher, she helped in her classroom.  

Sandy successfully survived breast cancer and was planning to attend our 55^th Reunion in 2017 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer.  She passed away peacefully in her home on October 1, 2019 surrounded by her family.  She is dearly missed by her loving family and dear friends.  

A beautiful testimony of long-lasting friendships has been lived out in a very blessed group of Sandy’s closest girlfriends from South Gate:  Sandy Coon Peterson (W’62), Genny Critchfield Burton (W’62), Mary Gail Dell Wallace (W’62), Sandy Horg Stahl (W’62), Pam Williams Taylor (W’62), Sheila Carlin Sissung (W’63), Kathy Martin Nowell (W’63), Judy Morin Rumbaugh (W’63) and Melinda Morton Evenson (W’63). After graduation, Christmas get-togethers kept them close. When all of them no longer lived in Southern California, they gathered twice a year, traveling to be together. Two of the group, Sandy Coon Peterson and Kathy Martin Nowell, have passed away, but these ladies have lived through the highs and lows of life together, supporting each other every step of the way.  

To quote Winnie the Pooh, “If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together…there is something you must always remember.  You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.  But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you.”  Rest in peace dear Sandy.  You are loved! 

https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/News/Obituaries/