WASHINGTON — Sandra Ann Grinnell, 69, passed away at her summer home in Washington, Maine, on Sept. 18, 2021, after a yearlong battle with cancer. 

Sandra was born Jan. 5, 1952, in Camden, Maine, to Donald Bailey and Lorraine (Lee) Grinnell. 

Sandra attended Prescott Memorial School from kindergarten through eighth grade where she made lasting friendships. For the past few summers several of “the Prescott girls” have gathered for fun-filled luncheons and shared many memories of those days.

Sandra’s freshman and sophomore years were spent at Union High school where she was a cheerleader. Her junior and senior years were spent at the newly opened Medomak Valley High School where she was also a cheerleader. Sandra worked on the Valley Echo school paper and was a Girl’s State delegate. She graduated in 1970.

Sandra completed one year at University of Maine at Orono, 1971. Not knowing what direction she wanted her education to take, she then attended secretarial school in Augusta. Her first position was working for G.F. Payson as a bookkeeper.

After vacationing on a Windjammer Caribbean cruise, she and close friend Elaine Sainio decided to leave the Maine cold weather and move to the warmer climate of Florida. They each found jobs quickly. Elaine was a nurse, and Sandra was hired as a receptionist at DFS Construction Company on the same day Bonny Tubbs was hired as a bookkeeper thus beginning a lifelong relationship.

Sandra held various office clerical jobs and decided that if she wanted to advance in the workforce, she would need to complete her education. She graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1983 with a BS degree in accounting. She was a member of Beta Alpha Psi, an honors organization for financial students and professionals.

Sandra was recruited by Eckert Corporation to a position of Internal Auditor. That position led to various other company positions in Express Photo, and then a transfer to Orlando, Florida, to the Distribution Center for a management position. When the Distribution Center began to scale down, Sandra began a series of jobs ranging from timeshare sales, business broker and purchasing a dry-cleaning pickup and delivery service that led to owning a plant and a store front. Risk-taker that she was, she was willing to try anything that piqued her interest at the time. Not surprisingly, she was successful at all her endeavors.

Sandra’s final employment position was with a law firm in Orlando. She oversaw office staff, accounting, and maintenance of the 100-year-old historic building where it was housed. She made many lasting friendships during her tenure there.

In 2010, she returned to Maine to care for her mother who was in declining health. At this time Sandra and Bonny decided to retire to Maine as “snowbirds.” They built a house across from her parents and have since spent summers.

Sandra was predeceased by her parents, Donald B. and Lorraine Grinnell.  

She is survived by her life partner, Bonny C. Tubbs; older brother, Donald L. Grinnell, his wife Elizabeth, their daughter, Katherine Grinnell and her new husband Aaron Trembley; younger brother, Jeffrey E. Grinnell, his wife Stephanie and their four children, Elizabeth, Emily Grinnell and Susanna Elliott, and Michael Prescott. Sandra loved every one of her many cousins and close personal friends who are too numerous to name, but you know who you are.

The family invites you to a memorial service at Hall Funeral Home in Waldoboro where an hour of visiting begins at 5 p.m., followed by a short service at 6 p.m., with Pastor Brad Bean presiding. There will be no open floor for comments during the service, but feel free to share your memories of Sandra on the Hall Funeral Home website.

Due to the current state of Covid and its variant, the family asks that masks be worn during the memorial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Village Church, 33 Liberty Road, Washington, ME 04574.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main Street, Waldoboro, Maine. To leave online condolences go to www.hallfuneralhomes.com.