Sandra Shiroky MacGillivray

Sandra Shiroky MacGillivray SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Sandra Jeanne Shiroky MacGillivray passed away early on the morning of April 21, 2021, at home with her husband at her side, after valiantly fighting pancreatic cancer. Sandy, the youngest daughter of the late John and Julianna Selepes Shiroky, was born and raised in Stratford, Connecticut. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1963 and went to the University of Connecticut, majoring in Secondary Education. It was in Storrs that she met Peter, whom she married on March 12, 1966, in Stratford. She graduated from UConn in 1968. After moving to Springfield, Vermont, Sandy taught at Springfield High School for 25 years. During that time, she earned her master’s degree from the University of Vermont. She helped establish the UVM’s Osher Lifelong Learning program in Springfield. Sandra was a co-owner of The Card Yard in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, for five years, while helping to shuttle her children to a myriad of athletic and dance practices and competitions. Sandy volunteered for many local Springfield organizations, including the Springfield Garden Club (president two years), Gallery at the V.A.U.L.T. (board member), Springfield on the Move (board member), Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Hospital Auxiliary and Apple Blossom Cotillion. Sandra was the recipient of Springfield Citizen of the Year award in 2013. Sandy enjoyed traveling with her husband to Fort Myers Beach, Cabo San Lucas, Sedona, and various other one-time trips, including a safari in Africa, and a trip to Russia with her sister, Barbara. Some of her other interests were dance, tennis, cross country skiing, reading and gardening. She loved following the Red Sox, Patriots, Tom Brady’s teams and both UConn basketball teams. Sandra is survived by her devoted husband, Peter Edward MacGillivray; her children, Courtney Paige Lihatsh (David Lihatsh) and Peter Lloyd MacGillivray (Kathy Cole MacGillivray); her grandchildren, Sophia Lihatsh, and Ethan and Zach MacGillivray; her nieces, Nancy Peterson, Karen Kittredge, Kirsten Aiello, Kecia Winton; her nephews, Raymond Peterson, and Kevin, Kurt and Kermit Twombly; and on her family’s side, great-nieces, Heather (godchild), Julianna and Catherine; great-nephews, Bobby, Pete and William. Sandra was predeceased by her parents and her only sibling, Barbara Ann Shiroky Peterson. Sandy’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the amazing number of people who prayed for her during her illness. She garnered an incredible amount of strength for her battle through all your wonderful thoughts. Visiting hours will be held at Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield on Thursday, April 29, from 6-8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church on April 30 at 11 a.m. A memorial and burial are scheduled for 1 p.m. May 1 in St. Mary’s Cemetery. All are invited. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Sandra’s name to Springfield on the Move and/or the Springfield Garden Club.