Sandra Cox Lattimer, age 74, passed away Oct. 29, 2021, at her son’s home in Sea Girt. Born in Hackensack, she grew up in Teaneck until her family moved to Spring Lake in 1960 and stayed in the area from then on.
Sandy graduated from St. Catharine’s Grammar School in 1961, St. Rose High School in 1965 and magna cum laude from Boston College in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts in education/Spanish. She began her career in 1978 at St. Catharine’s School where she was a sixth-grade teacher. In 1980, Sandy moved to the Point Pleasant School system and taught seventh and eighth grade at Memorial Middle School and then fifth and sixth grade at the Nellie Bennet School. She retired from Nellie Bennett in 2006, but then embarked on her second career at Mater Dei High School as a Spanish teacher. As moderator of the Foreign Language Club, she quickly became famous for her monthly taco buffets.
Over her 30 years in the classroom, she touched the lives of both students and fellow teachers with her generosity of spirit, kindness and above all, her friendship.
Sandy received many accolades. In 1986, she was recognized by the NJ Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award as the Point Pleasant Teacher of the Year. In 1994, Sandy was inducted into “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Finally, in 2000, she was inducted into the Point Pleasant Teachers Hall of Fame.
For the last few summers, Sandy worked for the Sea Girt Beach Department where she formed many great friendships with her co-workers and beach goers alike. Sandy volunteered and served on the Spring Lake Board of Education in the 1980s. She organized numerous after-school activities for the H.W. Mountz students, including a bowling league, roller skating and wiffleball games at Marucci park.
Sandy was an avid sports fan. She loved the Mets, Giants, Notre Dame football and Villanova basketball. She loved attending games at Shea Stadium, Citi Field and the Meadowlands. She traveled with her sons and sister to over 10 different stadiums to find the perfect sports experience. Her favorite events, however, were watching her sons, Brian and Kevin, and later her grandsons, Sean and Jack, play so many different sports. She was their biggest fan.
Most of all, Sandy enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She placed the happiness of others above all else. With her sister, Sis, they created the “Summer O’ Fun” in the 1980s in which her sons, nephews and nieces enjoyed games, the beach, Mets games, trips to amusement parks, and many other adventures. This tradition continued into the 2000s with her grandchildren. Her nephews and nieces looked upon Sandy and Sis as their second mothers. Sandy loved hosting Sunday family dinners and summer BBQs. She was an excellent cook and entertainer.
She was predeceased by her parents, Leo Walter and Ellen Dorothy Cox, and her brother Leo P. Cox. Surviving are her beloved sons, Brian Lattimer of Spring Lake Heights and Kevin Lattimer, his wife Jennie and her cherished grandchildren Sean and Jack Lattimer of Sea Girt; her brothers, Terrence Cox of Spring Lake Heights and Donald Cox of Belmar; her sister Ellen Cox of Sea Girt; and her sister-in-law Sharon Cox of Sea Girt. She also leaves behind her nephews Brendan, Sean and Terrence C, her nieces Erin, Colleen, Ellen and Eileen, and many grands who loved her very much.
A memorial visitation was held Nov. 3 at O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Nov. 4 at St. Catharine’s RC Church, Spring Lake. She will be laid to rest at St. Catharine’s Cemetery, Sea Girt.
The article originally appeared in the November 11 – 17, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
