Sandra Lee Lutz

Sandra Lee Leuchak Lutz (Sandy) was born on January 27, 1945 to Helen and Nicholas Leuchak, in Boyertown, PA.

Sandy graduated from Boyertown High School in 1962. From there she received her BA from West Chester State College in 1966 with a major in German, dual minors in English and Russian, and her teaching certification.

Sandy and her beloved husband Walt Lutz met while they were college students and after graduation, in August of 1966, they married and remained happily married for 43 years modeling for family and friends what a marriage of true minds looked like.

After taking a few years to raise her daughters, Laurie and Ani, Sandy went back to school and earned her MA from Bucknell University with dual degrees in Counseling and School Psychology. With her new degrees in hand, Sandy started her work as a guidance counselor at Southern Columbia Area High School. There she worked with countless students and families for 21 years until she retired in July of 2006. In addition to their work in public education, Sandy and Walt co-owned and operated the Little People Teachery, a nursery school in Berwick, for 20 years.

Travel was a passion for Sandy. This started when she worked in Germany as a college student. While there, her curiosity drew her to explore nearby countries. She and Walt took every opportunity to travel, whether it was a road trip across the US with their girls or trips abroad. They traveled with the Rotary Club as well as with family and friends, exploring locations far and wide. Walt’s death in 2009 didn’t end Sandy’s love of exploration. She took multiple overseas trips with friends, including Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Greece, the UK, Portugal, and Scandinavia. Her love of exploration and desire to experience other cultures was reflected in her outlook on life, and was a gift she passed on to her daughters. Sandy, aka Grammy, aka Gramster, enjoyed “girls’ trips” with Laurie, Ani, Eliza, and Penny; most recently, last summer to Paris, Normandy, Brittany, and Belgium. Laughter, food, games, and silly adventures abounded no matter where in the world they found themselves.

Although she wished she lived closer to her daughters and the girls, Sandy took advantage of the exceptional places they lived by taking frequent annual trips for visits. Sandy and Ani loved their annual February getaways to Sanibel Island, more local jaunts to cities and botanical gardens around the Northeast, and exploring beaches throughout New England. And then there was the stunning West Coast, where she had the great fortune to explore extensively ever since Laurie and her family moved to CA more than 25 years ago. Just a few weeks ago she had the unexpected surprise of viewing elephant seals from very close up, nesting on Point Reyes National Seashore. These types of unplanned but extraordinary experiences happened more times than we can count.

One of the great joys Sandy found in travel was the food. She relished learning about a country’s culture through the local cuisines that she then brought home to her own kitchen. A favorite Christmas tradition was creating the menu and choosing the music for an international dinner that she and her daughters and granddaughters would prepare together. Sandy’s kitchen was not only a place of delicious food, but it was a place of warmth, laughter and above all, love.

When Sandy wasn’t traveling, she kept a busy schedule participating with organizations that she believed in, serving over the years with multiple organizations such as the McBride Public Library Board, the Twentieth Century Delphian Club of Berwick, and Chapter BK of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.). She was always so appreciative of the like-minded service-oriented women that she had the pleasure of meeting and becoming close friends with through these organizations.

Before her retirement, Sandy also served in her professional capacity with the Pennsylvania State Educational Assoc. (PSEA) & National Educational Association (NEA).

Sandy was a woman who believed in doing the right thing for both her local as well as the global community. She did this quietly and without fanfare. Her life was grounded in her values, and her values were reflected in her acts of service.

Sandy was a voracious reader, and especially relished British mysteries and novels. She appreciated the sense of community and conversation she found in her book groups over the years. Sandy never slowed down. She kept a full social schedule with her large and very dear circle of friends, meeting them frequently for lunches, “brain-boosting” game days, BTE performances, and occasional forays into bowling and golfing.

Sandy is survived by her daughters Laura Lutz King (Novato, CA) and spouse Mallory; daughter Ani Lutz (Warren, VT); and granddaughters, Eliza and Penelope (Penny) King; her brother Nicholas Leuchak and his wife Sharon; and niece Jenna Ricks and her husband John. She was preceded in death by Walt, son-in-law Chris Seiler, and nephew, Jonathan Leuchak.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, February 7 at 4pm, at the First Presbyterian Church of Berwick at 320 N. Market St. in Berwick. James Ross will officiate. Friends will be received from 3pm until the time of the service. Memorial contributions in Sandy’s honor may be made to the McBride Memorial Library in Berwick, or Doctors Without Borders, organizations Sandy strongly supported. The Kelchner, McMichael & Readler Funeral Home, Inc. of Berwick is honored to serve the Lutz family. Online messages of comfort and support may be left at www.kelchnerfuneralhome.com.