Sando E. "Sandy" Mazzei's Obituary
On Saturday, December 13, 2025 our beloved uncle, cousin, and dear friend to many, Sando (Sandy) Ernest Mazzei passed from this life into the loving arms of God with family by his side.
Sandy was a first generation Italian American, born to Peter and Clara (Domanico) Mazzei on April, 21, 1926 in Tacoma, Washington. He grew up in Tacoma attending Stanley Elementary, McCarver Jr High, and Lincoln High School where he participated in choir and drama.
At 18, he enlisted in the Navy for the last two years of WWII. He trained at Farragut Naval Training Station on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille in Northern Idaho. He was transferred to the Seattle Naval Hospital in Shoreline as a Pharmacist’s Mate 3rd class where he tended the injured troops who had returned to the states from combat. Sandy was always quite humble about his military service. He joked that the only ship he was ever on while in the Navy was the Seattle to Bremerton Ferry. He had to be convinced to accept an Honor Flight to Washington DC in 2022.
Following his service in the Navy, Sandy went to work for Sears Roebuck and became the sales manager in Men’s Wear. (That explains why he was always such a sharp dresser!) A Veterans Administration representative encouraged him to use the GI Bill to attend business college. While there, a professor encouraged him to transfer to a four year university. He went on to graduate from UPS with a Masters in Education in 1958.
Sandy began his career in education at Jason Lee Junior High teaching English, Social Studies, and 9th grade Careers-which was his favorite. In the mid 1960’s he transferred to Stadium High School where he was Vice Principal in charge of discipline, lockers, and education staff. Rather than pursue a doctorate at the University of Oregon, Sandy opted to accept a position as Administrator for Secondary Education in the Central District Office. A position he held for 18 years.
In 1963, he married Jean Williams. For 53 years Sandy and Jean shared a life together with a passion for teaching and tennis. They often traveled to participate in tournaments, both as competitors and spectators. He was very proud of Jean accomplishments as a tennis player, especially when she placed third in the nation in her age group. They were also active members in their community. In 2007 they were awarded Lakewood’s Bill Harrison Volunteer of the Year award for removing over 10,000 signs that had been illegally posted on telephone poles over a ten year period.
Sandy was an active member of the Tacoma Kiwanis Club, serving as a board member for a number of years, and actively volunteering in a number of projects.
Sandy had a love for singing and was an longtime member of the Normanna Male Chorus of Tacoma singing baritone and performed with them in many concerts around Tacoma in care facilities and on stage in concert venues. He attended over 20 of their annual Sangerfest (Singer Festival). He especially enjoyed the Afterglow held following the main performance where they all gathered for socializing and more singing.
Sandy had a deep devotion to his faith. He was a lifelong member of St Rita of Cascia Catholic Church. He attended mass there his entire life until it’s closing. After the parish was merged with Pope St John XXIII Parish in recent years, he was at St. Rita’s for the Saturday morning prayer group, rain or shine. When he wasn’t feeling well enough to attend mass in person, he would find mass on YouTube, and then pray the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary in the evening. He also had the opportunity to receive the Eucharist on Mondays at Tahoma Terrace.
Sandy maintained a very active life through out his 99 years. He only recently slowed down when his body couldn’t keep up any more. When he could no longer play doubles tennis (which he played well into his 90s), he switched to hitting the ball against the wall on the racquetball court, joking that the wall usually won, and working out on the machines to help maintain his strength. He road the exercise bike or walked on the treadmill in the exercise room where he lived. His social life was full too. He was part of a weekly “coffee klatch” group, a weekly breakfast group, a monthly Windows and widowers dinner group, and the St. Rita’s prayer group. He enjoyed outings, movie nights, concerts, and cocktail hours with his friends at at Tahoma Terrace.
Sandy was a gentle, kind, and thoughtful man who will be dearly missed by all who knew him. If you were a person he encountered while out and about, he made sure to learn your name, and to let you know he appreciated you. He loved making cards for everyone, for all occasions on his computer and printing them himself. If he wasn’t going to see you in person, he made sure to select and personalize an e-card from a favorite online source.
Sandy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean Williams Mazzei; parents, Peter and Clara Mazzei; infant/child siblings: Sando and Angelina; sisters: Mary Serafini Berger, Hilda White, and Angela Smith; brother, Ernest Mazzei; niece Karen Mundell; nephews Robert Serafini and Randy Stanley, and grandnephew Daniel Nyman.
Sandy is survived by nephews Chuck (Maureen) Serafini, and Jerry (Teri) White; nieces, Carey (Dave) Nyman, Donna Stanley, Kathleen (Rick) Conzelman, Melaina (Jeff) Sellick, and Marcella (Richard) Workman, sister-in-law Billie Mazzei, many grand and great-grand-nephews and nieces, and several cousins.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Rita’s Catholic Church with family and friends and Inurnment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
St. Rita Catholic Church, c/o Pope St John Paul XXIII Parish 7025 S. Park Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98408 (with memo: St. Rita Church)
Tahoma Family Center, Attn: Development, 1323 Yakima
Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402 (with memo: Nativity House Shelter)
University of Puget Sound Jean Mazzei History Scholarship Fund
1500 N Warner Campus, Mailbox 1063
Tacoma, WA 98416
or online at https://pugetsound.edu
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