Monday, September 17, 2012
Sandra Eileen Mittman of Newport Beach, CA, expired in Norwalk, CT on August 23, 2012 at the age of 74 with Alzheimer’s Disease. Sandra was an only child and was born Sandra Eileen Abrams in Chicago, IL on 11-10-1937, growing up on Lakeshore Drive. Her father was Max Abrams (1900-1966), a Rumanian Jew and Chicago jeweler, who married Florence Shapiro in Chicago. Sandra’s mother passed away when she was 9 or 10 years old. Max remarried Myrtle Simon (1907-1981) in 1947 when Sandra was 10. Following her father’s death in 1966, Sandra’s stepmother Myrtle later remarried Lou Barrington, a medical doctor (1901 MA -1991 Chicago). Sandra attended Sullivan High School in Chicago, where she excelled in academics, earning Local Honor Society all 4 years and the distinguished Pitman Honor Roll, finishing in 1955. She graduated from University of Michigan at Ann Arbor after completing her studies in accounting. She met Leon R. Mittman (“Lee”; 1934 Youngstown, OH – 2002 Pleasanton, CA), also Jewish (Austrian/Polish & Russian descent) in Boulder, CO. They married, moved to California and had 2 children, Laurie (born 1962 in Palo Alto, CA) & Brad (born in 1965 after they relocated to Newport Beach, CA). Turns out Grandpa Max died 2 months after Brad’s birth in Chicago. Lee continued his studies at UCLA and went on to receive his Masters Degree studying both industrial and childhood psychology as well as pre-dent. He was accepted to UOP Dental School, but ultimately entered the tech industry, last working for Sun Microsystems in Silicon Valley in strategic alliance and project management. Prior to Brad’s acceptance to Swarthmore College in PA, Sandra went on to have a successful career as one of the top realtors in Newport Beach. She continued her career seeing Brad all the way through medical school and residency, not unlike Lee’s tremendous lifetime passion for learning and education. Sandra will best be remembered for her courage, perseverence, tremendous work ethic, and her unbreakable commitment to her son whom she cherished. Sandra is survived by her 2 children Brad & Laurie, her 3 grandchildren Andre (Brad’s son), Tyler and Madison (Laurie’s children from their loving father Todd Moroch), and a loving caregiver named Juvy. Services will be private.
