Sandra Polo

Sandra Polo, 83 years young, went home to be with the Lord on 02/11/2023, at peace, surrounded by light and with her devoted husband Lionel by her side. Her heart of this world may have failed, but her sound faith in God and stubbornly strong and infectious spirit, remain an everlasting source of strength for her family.

The cherished matriarch of her family was born Sandra Mary Spoto, April 3, 1939. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter C. and Isabel Hernandez Spoto, in-laws, Silvio Polo, Sr. and Hilda Prendes Polo, and countless other loved ones. She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Lionel; four children, Martin Polo (Janice), Michael Polo (Mary Jo), Dr. Max Polo (Sharon) and Melissa Polo; nine grandchildren, Ashley Ely (Preston), Brittany Petrilli (Carl), Mary del Cueto (Alex), Chris Polo, Annie Polo, Nick Polo, Isabella Polo, Jonathan Polo and Kate Polo; five great-grandchildren; and younger siblings, Dr. Salvador Spoto (Helen) and Frances Spoto Parker.

Sandra had many talents, an amazing sense of humor, a beautiful smile, smart, life-long creative, Jacqueline of All Trades, natural born leader, life-long student, teacher and valued advisor. A Tampa native, she graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and was the recipient of the American Legion School Award. After high school, she went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University where she served on the Honor Court, as well as gaining membership in the Varsity Club and Delta Gamma Fraternity for which she remained active, including volunteer work and establishment of the Delta Kappa Chapter at the University of South Florida. Following graduation, Sandra married her college sweetheart, Lionel, became an art, math and civics teacher at Sligh Junior High and West Tampa Junior High, was blessed with four children and renovated a 12-unit apartment building in their historic neighborhood of Hyde Park. Together they taught their children integrity, loyalty, compassion and the importance of faith in life and education, imbuing them with the confidence necessary to pursue life with purpose and grace.

Along with raising her four beautiful babies, her working career included serving as Deputy Director of the Community Action Agency for Hillsborough County and commercial real estate agent for John White. In 1990, she began assisting Lionel and his sons run his family business, Southern Surgical Supply Company, where she served as President for 5 years, helping secure the Small Business Award for the State of Florida. She was talented in so many aspects of her life and there wasn’t anything that Sandra couldn’t do.

Passionate about her Catholic faith, Sandra was a loyal and dedicated parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, a lector, member of the ladies guild and faithfully engaged in numerous church events, Bible study and ministry outreach programs. She was also very active as a volunteer at Jesuit High School for several decades where her three sons and grandsons attended. Of Sicilian and Cuban heritage, Sandra was a proud member of L’Unione Italiana and participated in or volunteered for many events at the Cuban Club and Centro Asturiano.

In 2018, Sandra’s love for family and the water brought her back to Pass-a-Grille Beach where, as a child, she had spent many a summer with her cousins at her Nana’s duplex across from the baseball field. Sandra and Lionel shared their love and opened their homes to so many over the years. From Gasparilla parties, to the ball fields of Bayshore, Palma Ceia and Tampa Bay Little Leagues, St. John’s Episcopal school functions for kids and grandkids, Jesuit football games, Bucs tailgates, traveling through Europe, Sunday pasta and holiday dinners, poker night, and countless other gatherings, Sandra touched many lives, never met a stranger and made it a point to make all those she encountered feel special and loved. Those of us who were blessed to be touched by her understand that the imprint she left on our hearts far exceeds the time she had on earth.

Sandra was a loving, caring and self-less soul, faithful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who often imparted her wisdom from life experiences (or help with a school project) to improve our lives. Her family (including her extended family and countless cousins) was an immense and fierce source of pride, joy, love and happiness. Everyone who knew Sandra felt her generous heart and giving, joyful nature. She will be greatly missed by her extensive family, multitude of friends and many neighbors.

The family would like to thank her compassionate physicians and caregivers, especially her cousin and pulmonologist Dr. Domenick J. Reina, Cardiologist Dr. Joel Fernandez, BayCare nurses, therapists and staff (Celeste, Tristan), Kenisha Holte and the team at Bright Star. We would also like to thank our many family members and friends for their outpouring of love, support and prayers during this difficult time.

A funeral mass will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 24th at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, FL, officiated by Rev. Rob Cadrecha and Rev. Len Plazewski. Following the mass, the family will receive friends from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm at Blount and Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Ave. Tampa, FL. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Sandra’s life.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, online or at 230 E. Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611 OR Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1524, Tampa, FL 33601-1524