Sandra Kurtz

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Sandra “Sandy“ Koss Kurtz passed away on September 11, 2026 at her home. Sandy was born to Agnes and Teddy Koss, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY with her late brother, Barry Koss. In 1956, at 15, while attending summer camp, Sandy met her beloved husband, the late Mel Kurtz. A handsome and dynamic couple, they married young and happily raised their children in Riverdale, then Hartsdale, before settling in Scarsdale. Sandy went back to school and earned a BA in sociology from Purchase and a Juris Doctorate from Pace, and then embarked on a successful law career. She ultimately ran her own law firm, where she practiced every manner of law, specializing in domestic law and criminal defense work, ranging from misdemeanors through successful murder trials. Her clients often credited her with changing their lives. Sandy was a smart and particularly strong woman, a force, an advocate in every sense of the word, a stickler for grammar and semantics, and steadfastly organized in every aspect of her life. She was incredibly generous. She took care of everyone around her with strength and dedication. She was a devoted patron of the arts, and joyfully attended theatre, dance, and opera. Her meticulously maintained playbills date back decades. Sandy also loved exercise, attended weekly dance classes, and took long walking tours throughout the world. She had a great sense of humor and a contagious laugh, and nothing made her happier than to see her children and grandchildren together. Sandy is survived by her daughters Lisa Hatem and Jill Kurtz, her son Glenn Kurtz, her daughter-in-law Linda Kurtz, her son-in-law Peter Hatem, her grandchildren, Jessica Lanman and her husband Adam, Tyler Hatem and his wife Hannah, and Kevin Kurtz, and her sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grand nephews and their children.