Sandra MacWhinney Huber

Sandy died unexpectedly on February 25, 2026 at her home in Essex. Her absence in the lives of her family and many friends will be felt for a very long time. Sandy was born December 10, 1948 in New London, Connecticut. Her parents were Escott Houlton MacWhinney and Helen (Zabielski) MacWhinney. Sandy is survived by her immediate family: her sisters Shelly Houghtaling (and her husband Ken) and Linda Saucier, her brother Thomas MacWhinney (and his wife Layne), her son Christopher Olsen (and his three sons: Jared, James and Jacob Olsen), and her husband since 1988, Whitney Huber. Sandy was predeceased by her youngest brother, Richard MacWhinney, and by her sister Linda’s husband, LeRoy Saucier. Sandy was a graduate of Valley Regional High School in Deep River, Connecticut. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Connecticut with a major in art education.

Although Sandy’s career path did not take her into teaching, she worked many years in the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management where she managed statewide programs and oversaw state-funded grants. Sandy retired from OPM in 2018. Sandy loved gardening, cooking, sewing, reading, and shopping therapy. She had a lifelong affection for horses. She showed them in competition as a youth and as an adult. She always enjoyed being in the company of horses and the people who rode and trained them. Whitney is grateful that Sandy introduced him to riding horses. They both enjoyed showing horses together for many years, always seeking to become better riders and horse persons. Around 25 years ago Sandy became interested in making art glass beads with torches (also known as lamp working). After she introduced Whitney to lamp working, they set up a lamp working studio at their home where they spent many hours creating beads and learning new techniques. They enjoyed traveling to places as far away as Sedona, Arizona to take classes with well-known glass artists. Sandy also took classes at Wesleyan Potters where she was learning metalworking techniques. She had many ideas for jewelry that combined silver and other metals with the art glass beads she and Whitney made.

A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held in late June. The family will announce the details at a future time.

For those who would like to make a memorial gift in Sandy’s name, please consider giving to:

Forgotten Felines, PO Box 374, Clinton, CT 06413

The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, PO Box 804, Essex, CT 06426

Connecticut Foodshare, 2 Research Pkwy, Wallingford, CT 06492