Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
August 20, 2018
Services
Arrangements are by Vander May Wayne Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 (973) 696-2900. Friends and extended family may call on Friday, August 24, 2018, 5-8 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 10 am. Interment will follow at Warwick Cemetery, Warwick, NY.
Saundra “Sandi” (Storms) Putnam, formerly of Wanaque/West Milford, NJ (recently of Warsaw/Geneseo, NY), died peacefully of a brief illness on Monday, August 20, 2018, with her family near her side, in a Rochester (NY) hospital. She was 71.
Sandi is predeceased by her husband of 20 years, James E. Putnam, whom she wed in 1983. She is also predeceased by her parents, Bernard and Phyllis Storms.
Sandi was born in Paterson and lived in Pompton Lakes before moving at a young age to Haskell (Wanaque Borough). Sandi remained in the area most of her life.
She graduated from Lakeland Regional High School, Wanaque, in 1965. Sandi worked at A&P (Haskell) and Gelman’s (Pompton Lakes) while attending Paterson State Teachers College. She accepted a position right out of college teaching US History and Sociology at her high school alma mater, Lakeland, where she would spend the next 33 years. Mid-career, Sandi obtained a Master’s in Psychology by attending night classes at Montclair State College. This enabled her to teach Behavioral Studies for Lakeland.
Sandi was a dedicated teacher and, despite a perception of being strict, was beloved by many students. She gave freely of her own time to supervise many extracurricular activities, including co-founding of the highly successful and nationally recognized ERASE (End Racism and Sexism Everywhere) program. She was also a repeat Class Advisor, who chaperoned Proms and trips; coached Girls’ Basketball; announced Varsity Football; and helped found the Beautification Project that positively impacted both the school and the community (Addice Park). Sandi also spearheaded student conference days regarding Alcoholism and initially led the Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) movement at Lakeland. Sandi felt strongly about this topic and fostered open discussions about it with her students.
Apart from teaching, Sandi helped raise her husband’s two daughters as teenagers, retained a strong interest in politics and current events, and was a devoted daughter, sister, and aunt.
In her salad days, her friends saw her fun-loving side, during bowling league; weekends up to Hunter Mountain or summers at The Jersey Shore or in The Hamptons; and on memorable trips, including Hawaii and Myrtle Beach. Sandi also had fond memories of family reunions, trips, and picnics. Trips to Memphis and Florida with her husband as well as her one international trip to Toronto for ERASE figured prominently in her memories.
In addition, Sandi had creative flair, with an excellent eye for color and style. She was known among her friends and family as having exceptional taste in clothing and home décor. She enjoyed making special napkin rings and floral arrangements for family events. Also, she was known as an accomplished shopper who was generous with others to a fault.
Sandi was a very giving person and eventually became caregiver for her parents and husband, in spite of her own serious and chronic health conditions. After her “early” retirement from teaching and the family’s relocation to Western New York, Sandi continued to work tirelessly and selflessly for her parents and husband until their subsequent deaths.
Sandi is survived by two younger brothers, Stephen (Lee) Storms, of Warsaw, NY, and Jeffrey (Michele) Storms of Caldwell, ID; a younger sister, Stacy (Christopher) Dorland, of Rochester, NY; a step-daughter, Terry (David) Futcher of Highland Lakes, NJ; and two grown grandsons, David James and Corey Futcher, also of Highland Lakes. She leaves behind many bereaved nieces and nephews as well as many old and new friends.
Sandi loved flowers, but she was also very civic-minded. Honor her memory as you wish and as befits her legacy of generosity.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Arrangements are by Vander May Wayne Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 (973) 696-2900. Friends and extended family may call on Friday, August 24, 2018, 5-8 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 10 am. Interment will follow at Warwick Cemetery, Warwick, NY.
August 20, 2018
Services
Arrangements are by Vander May Wayne Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 (973) 696-2900. Friends and extended family may call on Friday, August 24, 2018, 5-8 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 10 am. Interment will follow at Warwick Cemetery, Warwick, NY.
Saundra “Sandi” (Storms) Putnam, formerly of Wanaque/West Milford, NJ (recently of Warsaw/Geneseo, NY), died peacefully of a brief illness on Monday, August 20, 2018, with her family near her side, in a Rochester (NY) hospital. She was 71.
Sandi is predeceased by her husband of 20 years, James E. Putnam, whom she wed in 1983. She is also predeceased by her parents, Bernard and Phyllis Storms.
Sandi was born in Paterson and lived in Pompton Lakes before moving at a young age to Haskell (Wanaque Borough). Sandi remained in the area most of her life.
She graduated from Lakeland Regional High School, Wanaque, in 1965. Sandi worked at A&P (Haskell) and Gelman’s (Pompton Lakes) while attending Paterson State Teachers College. She accepted a position right out of college teaching US History and Sociology at her high school alma mater, Lakeland, where she would spend the next 33 years. Mid-career, Sandi obtained a Master’s in Psychology by attending night classes at Montclair State College. This enabled her to teach Behavioral Studies for Lakeland.
Sandi was a dedicated teacher and, despite a perception of being strict, was beloved by many students. She gave freely of her own time to supervise many extracurricular activities, including co-founding of the highly successful and nationally recognized ERASE (End Racism and Sexism Everywhere) program. She was also a repeat Class Advisor, who chaperoned Proms and trips; coached Girls’ Basketball; announced Varsity Football; and helped found the Beautification Project that positively impacted both the school and the community (Addice Park). Sandi also spearheaded student conference days regarding Alcoholism and initially led the Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) movement at Lakeland. Sandi felt strongly about this topic and fostered open discussions about it with her students.
Apart from teaching, Sandi helped raise her husband’s two daughters as teenagers, retained a strong interest in politics and current events, and was a devoted daughter, sister, and aunt.
In her salad days, her friends saw her fun-loving side, during bowling league; weekends up to Hunter Mountain or summers at The Jersey Shore or in The Hamptons; and on memorable trips, including Hawaii and Myrtle Beach. Sandi also had fond memories of family reunions, trips, and picnics. Trips to Memphis and Florida with her husband as well as her one international trip to Toronto for ERASE figured prominently in her memories.
In addition, Sandi had creative flair, with an excellent eye for color and style. She was known among her friends and family as having exceptional taste in clothing and home décor. She enjoyed making special napkin rings and floral arrangements for family events. Also, she was known as an accomplished shopper who was generous with others to a fault.
Sandi was a very giving person and eventually became caregiver for her parents and husband, in spite of her own serious and chronic health conditions. After her “early” retirement from teaching and the family’s relocation to Western New York, Sandi continued to work tirelessly and selflessly for her parents and husband until their subsequent deaths.
Sandi is survived by two younger brothers, Stephen (Lee) Storms, of Warsaw, NY, and Jeffrey (Michele) Storms of Caldwell, ID; a younger sister, Stacy (Christopher) Dorland, of Rochester, NY; a step-daughter, Terry (David) Futcher of Highland Lakes, NJ; and two grown grandsons, David James and Corey Futcher, also of Highland Lakes. She leaves behind many bereaved nieces and nephews as well as many old and new friends.
Sandi loved flowers, but she was also very civic-minded. Honor her memory as you wish and as befits her legacy of generosity.
Guestbook
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.