Cecelia Sands

Cecelia Sands, née Diamond, died on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at the age of 98. (She actually passed on December 2, 2023, at 11:45pm; since the attending physician wasn’t able to come by her room until after midnight, she got an extra day.) Beloved wife of the late Alan Sands. Daughter of the late Benjamin Diamond and Minnie Bogomolny Diamond. Sister of the late Ida Friedman. Loving mother of Brian Sands and Monica Sands. Also survived by niece Madeline Sunshine (Steve) and many cousins.

Mrs. Sands grew up in the Bronx and attended Christopher Columbus High School, where she starred in numerous theatrical productions. She subsequently graduated from Brooklyn College. She was story editor for “The Philip Morris Playhouse”, which aired on radio and then television, working with such creative artists as Rod Serling and Marlene Dietrich. She later worked for a number of luminaries in the entertainment field including film producer Dino De Laurentiis and Lou Wilson who was the manager of Julie Andrews and Maggie Smith. As “Cecelia Diamond,” she was a professional folk singer/guitarist, entertaining for various organizations and functions in NYC and beyond. She would go on to get a teaching degree and taught in New York City public schools before having children and raising a family.

She eventually returned to the workforce as a substitute teacher and, later, worked for over ten years for renowned fashion designer Halston in an administrative capacity in his marketing department until she retired.

An avid stamp collector, Mrs. Sands loved theater, opera, ballet, art & traveling, and shared that love with her husband and children. A lifelong Democrat, she supported worthy causes and enjoyed volunteering at the Whitney Museum and as an usher for off-Broadway shows.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to God's Love We Deliver (https://www.glwd.org/).