Dr. Sandra Sellers Hanson

Dr. Sandra Sellers Hanson

Sandra Kay Sellers Hanson, 81, of Brooklyn NY, died on August 8, 2022. A Memorial service will be held at 3:p.m. on June 8, 2023, at Ewing Funeral Home, Clarion IA. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

Sandra Kay Sellers was born January 6, 1941 in Austin MN to Alvina (Tesdahl) Sellers and Lewllien (LW) Sellers. Her family moved to Iowa and she attended a one room country school. Her brother, James, was born in 1945. When she was nine the family moved to Wall Lake Township. She attended Clarion High School, graduating with the class of 1959. She was involved in the county 4-H and enjoyed taking projects to the Wright County Fair.

Following graduation, she attended Luther College in Decorah, where she served on the Student Activities committee and as president of Delta and Alpha Delta Societies. She obtained her Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin and later earned her Doctorate from New York University (NYU).

While in Wisconsin she met David Hanson and they married. They moved to the Los Angeles area where they lived until he was drafted into the Army. The couple moved to New York City where he worked distributing films to Army bases and she began her career at LaGuardia Community College, teaching English. Upon his discharge they found an apartment on Carroll St in Brooklyn. They later divorced but Sandra stayed in the Carroll St. apartment the rest of her life because she loved it and the community.

Her work was rewarding and she was highly respected by her colleagues. The English Department elected her Chair for over 25 years. The college still employs 39 professors that Sandra hired. She also served on many committees through the City University of New York.

Sandra valued her family and friends. She returned to Clarion many summers, visiting her parents, other family and friends. She was a source of love and knowledge for her nephews, sharing generously of herself.

Sandra was a collector at heart and her apartment and office showcased her interest in Elvis, dolls, John Deere and all things Iowa. She was a wonderful blend of farm and city and she was a passionate New York Yankees fan, attending many games.

She is survived by her brother, James, and his wife, Joan, of Phoenix AZ; nephews

Jason Sellers and wife, Mara, sons Derek and Dillon of Scottsdale AZ:; Jay Sellers and

wife, Wendy, daughter Tia and sons Pax and Ty, of Phoenix AZ, and many cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvina and Lewllien Sellers.