Sandra “Sandy” Horwitz

Sandra “Sandy” Horwitz ( née Weisinger) was born May 2, 1941, and died November 10, 2025, with her daughters, Lauren and Karen Horwitz by her side after a several-year battle with dementia.

Sandra was the only child of Samuel and Rachel Weisinger, though she was raised alongside two girls who had lost their parents, Sonya Shapiro and Harriet Coleman, and who she believed were her sisters until she was older. Sandy met Morton Jay Horwitz, the father of her children, while she was studying for a master’s degree in education  at Harvard, where Morton was earning his PhD.  Morton and Sandra lived in Washington, D.C., and then moved to Brookline, Massachusetts, where they raised their three daughters, Jennifer Ellen, Lauren Sarah, and Karen Michale.  Sandy worked as an English teacher at Maimonides and then Beaver Country Day School, and ultimately ended her career at Beaver as a librarian.

Sandra believed ardently in civil rights and equality for all, and these beliefs are an important part of her legacy. Her values informed her dealings with everyone she came into contact with, and she was an ally for those in marginalized groups.  Sandy loved to travel and meet new people, and her desire to learn about others allowed her to have brief but meaningful connections with those she came into contact with. Sandy also loved animals and was the human companion to several animals throughout her life. She was well-read and taken with Greek mythology and classic literature. Many of her pets–Portia, Atticus, and Sappho–reflected her connection to these works as inspiration. And while Sandra had many challenges throughout her life, she was a survivor. Her grit and determination were a hallmark of who she was.

Sandy is survived by her daughters, Jennifer, Lauren, and Karen, her sons-in-law, Michael Last and Paul Leyva, her granddaughter, Olivia Last, and the father of her daughters, Morton Horwitz. Sandra is also survived by her beloved cousin, Arleen Hantman. Services are private. Sandra will be laid to rest November 14, 2025, at Newton Cemetery and Arboretum.