Previous and long time resident of BOWIE -- Karen M. Sanda died at her residence in
Annapolis, Maryland on June 5, 2021. It will be difficult to keep her lovely life story short.
Karen was born on August 18, 1938, in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Thomas and
Helen (Gleason) Moore. A cherished daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, coworker,
leader, teacher, and tutor. She epitomized selflessness, always willing to give of herself to
others and often putting her needs last.
Ms. Sanda retired with State Recognition and Awarded as an Excellent Educator in 2000. She
retired after serving over 30 years as an establishing math chair and teacher of Dwight D.
Eisenhower Junior High (Middle) School in Laurel, Maryland. After school and during the
summers, she tutored math and taught SAT preparation classes. Countless graduated students
returned to visit and thank her, “If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know if I would ever get or have
passed math.” She was also invited to many previous student’s weddings and life event
celebrations.
While at Eisenhower, she was awarded an Eisenhower Generals wrestling trophy and served as
sponsor for the Crusader yearbook club, including organizing annual publishing celebration trips
to Hershey Park, Brighton Dam,… with her two small daughters in tow.
She earned her bachelor of science degree in mathematics with a minor in guidance from the
State Teachers College of Connecticut and received her masters from Bowie State College.
Also a Waterbury Catholic High School graduate, she was immediately hired to teach within
Waterbury. A consistent Dean’s List student, she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, national
education honor society; Lambda Mu Nu, mathematics club; Student Education Association;
College chorus, and Dial Yearbook staff.
Karen had a beautiful singing voice! She performed professionally in duets and plays (Theater
In The Woods, Bowie Maryland). Throughout her young and into her adult life, she was singing!
-- in the college chorus and church minstrels; outside harmonizing with her great friends, Betty
(Kennedy) Goggin and Pam (Mullen) Mencio (receiving applause!), and during carpools where
each child had a turn for a song of choice (keeping the peace until reaching destination).
She considered her greatest achievement as her daughters. Her daughters and grandchildren
provided her with the greatest of joy! She was often bragging about and bending over
backwards for them. Her grandchildren called her Baba (hint, bottle) -- if they wanted, she
delivered!
Every Thanksgiving and with a daughter in tow, she delivered an abundance of groceries and
necessities to a family or group home, contacting them to assure their needs were being met.
She was always giving of herself. She moved her mother into her family home after her father
died. She tutored numerous children of friends as well as her daughter's friends. Immediately
following work, Baba would arrive to help with her granddaughters while their parents
transitioned work schedules. Then, she would be off to visit with and feed her mother (upon
reaching 90, her mother required assisted living care).
Funny, she worried about what she would do upon retiring. While the love she had for her
grandchildren (and her children) overfloweth! -- she also managed to take many senior bus trips
and traveled abroad with her great friend since moving to Bowie, Kathryn Marble. Her travels
included a helicopter ride over the Hawaiian islands! She cared for her friends (nursing them
back to health) and neighbors (addressing any of their needs). She attended many girls teacher
luncheons, organized and was eventually transported by her great friend, Virginia McKenzie.
Karen is survived by her two daughters, Kirsten Sanda and Kathryn Sanda Marmo and three
grandchildren, Karen (married, Lies), Kirsten, and Thomas Marmo. She is the cherished aunt to
her brother’s -- Thomas and wife, Majorie Moore’s -- children: Alison, Thomas, Gretchen
(married,Peaco), Colin and Eric; and to her cousin’s -- Joan and husband, Charles Tangney’s --
children: Stephen, James, Moira (married, Daigle), John and William.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Robert E. Evans
Funeral Home, 16000 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD 20715.
Her daughters will be hosting a luncheon immediately following her services.
Interment services will be held in the late summer at Calvary Cemetery, 2324 Main Street,
Waterbury, CT 06705.
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