Sanderson Orr

Sanderson Rowe Orr (known always as Sandy) died September 2, 2023 at 76 after a 5-year battle with breast cancer. A baby boomer born in 1947 was second oldest of five siblings but also had seven more half-siblings. Despite being one year younger than her twin brother and sister, she was always in charge. Other than living in southern Georgia after the divorce of her parents, she lived her life in Cincinnati. After graduating from The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY she attended Colorado Womens College.

She married Potter Orr at the age of 19 and would have celebrated a 57th wedding anniversary in October. She was a wonderful mother to daughter Mimi (married to Scott Manzler) and son Jimmy.

She had a full working career including a stint at Planned Parenthood but her work passion and gift was selling. She worked at and managed a number of retail stores including Panache and Potter Shoes, but selling mailing and business fulfillment services was her favorite.

Charitable work was important too and she served as President of The Babies Milk Fund and was a board member of the Friends of The School of Performing Arts.

Sandy was a gifted athlete and very competitive. She played with her father as a teenager in the Ohio state badminton tournament and was a single digit handicap golfer including winning the club championship at her beloved Belvedere Golf club in Charlevoix, Michigan. That competitive streak led her to become an ACBL Silver Life Master bridge player as well.

In her spare time, she produced countless oil paintings, edited a dessert cookbook for a Cincinnati charity and earned a private pilot’s license.

After visiting her then boyfriend and later husband at the family cottage in Charlevoix Michigan she spent as much time as possible there over the next 58 summers. She joined, organized and worked on many of the activities of the summer home association accumulating a long list of friends in addition to relatives beyond counting.

She is survived by husband Potter, daughter Mimi Orr Manzler, son-in-law Scott Manzler, grandchildren Cameron Orr, Mackenzie Orr, Greyson Wagner, Laney Wagner, daughter-in-law Katie Wagner, son-in-law Mike Wagner and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Jimmy Orr.

There will be a visitation on Saturday September 9 from 1:00 to 3:00 at the Gilligan Funeral Home in Kenwood.

In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a donation to the charity of your choice.

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