Sandra Sue Phillips passed away on Friday, February 14, 2020th surrounded by her four children and in the comfort of her own home. She was a loving wife and life-partner to her husband Alan (deceased), and a loving and inspirational mother to her four surviving children: Andrea, Buck, Reid and Lincoln. Her spirit and strength were witnessed by the grace and character she displayed in her long, hard battle with cancer, which ultimately took her life.

Sandy was born on July 4th, 1935 to Laurence and Susana Griswold in Fort Madison, Iowa. After graduating from Franklin High school in Cedar rapids, Iowa, she followed her adventurous heart by leaving her home state to study art at the University of Colorado in Boulder. There, she joined the Alpha Phi sorority and met the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Alan Phillips (Al). Sandy and Al were married in September of 1956 and spent their honeymoon bicycling from Colorado to Edmonton, Canada where Al played semiprofessional baseball for the season. Sandy and Al moved back to the States after Al joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1957. They spent the next several years between Quantico Virginia and Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. They were blessed with their first child, Andrea, in 1960 while in California. Following Al's release from active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, Sandy and Al moved back to Colorado to raise a family.

Sandy was an avid adventurer and explorer in many fields of life-always curious and open to ideas and experiences and especially people. She had a gift for engaging everyone around her and bringing out their stories. She always wanted to hear about "you" and didn't always offer much of her own story. So, here are some of the highlights of that story; as a child she had many adventures exploring the woods of her Iowa home. Her father was an entertainer, acrobat, and performer and, when they were old enough, she and her brother, Victor, would join their father traveling the U.S. & Canada while their mother (Susanna) stayed home with their two little sisters Mary Jane and Donna Kay. Later, she spent her summers at camp at Lake Hubert, Minnesota. There, she developed her talent in athletics, continuing on to win awards in swimming and marksmanship. In high school Sandy Griswold was affectionately known as "Griz". She lettered in athletics, performed international dance, published poetry, and in 1954 "Griz" was chosen as Homecoming Queen. She also caught the "art bug". In 1956 she "took a break" from her art degree to get married and immerse herself in raising her four children. She absolutely loved being a mother and all the aspects of nurturing young lives and exploring the world with her children, she was excellent at it.

Almost thirty years later, in 1985, after having launched her children into adult life, she completed her art degree. She returned to the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she sometimes crossed paths with her own children, still working through their own degrees at the same campus. Throughout her life she tried her hand at ranching, the antiques trade, ceramics, painting, climbing, and dance—Sandy and Alan could dance the Jitterbug "like no-one's business!". Sandy lived in Paris for 6 months with her two small children, trekked to the base camp of Mt. Everest, ran logistics for Outward Bound in Utah, sailed the Caribbean and the Greek islands, and made a number of sojourns in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, Mexico, and many mountain road trips. She was a member of the Denver Junior League, the Colorado Arlberg Club, the Board of the Denver Art Museum and the C.U. Boulder foundation.

Sandy passed on Valentine's day. She was a Valentine to us all. She remained this curious, listening, loving, supportive, caring, silly, serious, whimsical, laughing, creative, searching, involved, fiercely independent spirit all her days. We feel her brightness and her "big hugs" surrounding us still.

She is survived by her four children Andrea, Buck, Reid, and Lincoln and six her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Alan Phillips, and her three siblings Victor, Mary Jane, and Donna Kay.

Almost four months ago we had plans to join family and friends in a celebration of Sandy's life. Then events in the world forced all of us to put much of our lives and plans on hold. Now that things have settled a little we realize that for the time being we are living in very different circumstances. We want to come together with all of you in a space without the risks of travel or of exposure to large groups. We will be hosting a virtual celebration of Sandy's life on Saturday, July 4, which was her birthday, from 1 to 3 pm mountain time . Mark your calendar's and polish off the WebCams. Details will follow about how to connect with us and share your Sandy stories.Thank you for keeping her in your memories and your hearts. Andrea, Buck, Reid and Lincoln. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Denver Dumb Friends League, www.ddfl.org , the Denver Botanic Gardens, www.botanicgardens.org , the Children's Hospital of Colorado, www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org or the Rocky Mountain Land Library, 2550 W 39th Ave, Denver, CO 80211.