Sandra Jean Halstead

Sandra, “Sandy,” Jean Halstead died on July 21, 2026, in Croton on Hudson, New York, aged 85 years, after a long illness. Sandy was born on January 9, 1941, in Geneva, New York, the third child of Arthur Charles Halstead and Dorothy May Vann Halstead. Sandy graduated from Ithaca High School, as well as State University of New York, Cortlandt, and completed a Master’s Degree in Education from Columbia University. Sandy moved to Croton from Peekskill in 1971, after relocating to the East Coast from Palo Alto, CA, with her then husband William, “Bill,” David Ponzer (deceased November 25, 2000), and her son David James Ponzer (residing in Durham, New Hampshire), who was born in 1965. Her second son, Howard Smith Ponzer II (residing in Croton on Hudson) was born in Peekskill in 1968. Sandy taught for 30 years at Hawthorne Cedar-Knolls, where she showed generations of students that English literature is compelling, not boring, and has durable lessons for modern students. Indeed, Sandy earned the moniker “Goody Halstead” or “the Good” after introducing students to “The Scarlet Letter”. She was a much loved educator and advocate for her students. She loved teaching them her favorite book, “Alice in Wonderland”. Sandy loved Croton because it was a good town to raise children, her sister Shirley Hopkins Halstead Gillis (deceased June 29, 2024) lived there, and because the Hudson River reminded her of her beloved Cayuga Lake, where her mother’s family had farmed for generations. Sandy had a large circle of friends; from her days living in Cornell married student housing with Bill Ponzer, to all those she made working at Hawthorne Cedar Knolls and relaxing at Honeys and the Grandstand. She was a great listener, a dedicated reader, a family historian, and an amazing chef of upstate New York comfort meals. Sandy’s brother Jerome Kent Halstead predeceased her on December 13, 2020. Sandy is survived by her sons David and Howard, her daughter-in-law Karin Anderson Ponzer, and her grandsons William David Ponzer and Bjorn Whitaker Anderson Ponzer, as well as her brother James Arthur Halstead, her nephews Gregory Scott Gillis, Scott Halstead, Mark, Halstead, and her niece Heather May Gillis, and their families, who will remember her fondly and miss her salty humor at Thanksgiving dinners and Memorial Day picnics.

A memorial visitation is scheduled from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Edward F Carter Funeral Home, 41 Grand Street, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her honor to:

The Cedar Knolls Foundation: was established in July 2007 as a Non-Profit Organization. The Foundation’s mission is dedicated to enhancing the lives of the under-served students attending Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Union Free School District through cultural activities, artistic expression, scholastic tutoring and enriching experiences. These activities will enhance the capacity of the district to meet student needs through professional development, scholarships and staff training.

The Cedar Knolls Foundation Inc.

226 Linda Avenue

Hawthorne, NY 10532

[email protected]