Sandra Garzia Kemsley

Sandra (Sandy) Garzia Kemsley - Nov 3, 1947-October 17, 2025

Sandra Garzia Kemsley, of Orlando, Florida, died on October 17, 2025, after a 20 year battle with Parkinson's disease, passing away peacefully near her summer home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Sandy was born November 3, 1947, in Highland Park, Michigan, the daughter of Samuel and Josephine Garzia, the twin sister of the late Samuel Garzia, Jr., and the sister of Frank Garzia. As a child, she attended Birmingham schools, and later her family moved to West Bloomfield.

Sandy met her husband, George Kemsley, at a tennis party in 1975, and they celebrated their 47th anniversary during her hospitalization. Sandy is survived by George, by their sons Stephen (Jeanne Hagadone) and David (Laura), and by their granddaughters, Giorgia and Maxine Kemsley, and their grandson, Caruso Kemsley.

Sandy majored in education at Michigan State University, studied abroad in England, and later obtained her masters degree from Oakland University. She was an elementary teacher for 24 years in the Waterford public schools, where she was well loved by hundreds of students for her fun and memorable classroom activities. Following her retirement, Sandy was the founder and owner of one of the earliest educational resource websites, abcteach.com, which grew to become an important resource for millions of educators around the world. Sandy ran the business until health issues compelled her second retirement.

Until Parkinson's interfered, Sandy was a skilled golfer, with four holes-in-one, who played on the MSU women's club golf team (pre-Title IX), and who was club champion or runner-up numerous times at her clubs, including Detroit Golf Club, the Heathers Club of Bloomfield Hills, the Shenandoah GC, Bay Hill Club (Orlando), and Edgewood GC (as a junior). She also enjoyed travel, especially to Sicily (where all of her grandparents were born), Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bermuda, western Canada, and other destinations. Sandy's other interests included quilting and weaving, piano, and Italian cooking.

Sandy will be remembered for her warmth, ingenuity, strength, and determination, and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Family will receive friends on Monday, November 3, 3-7PM, at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak.

Funeral Mass Tuesday, November 4, 10AM, at St. Hugo of the Hills - Stone Chapel, 2215 Opdyke Rd., Bloomfield Hills. Visiting at church begins at 9:30AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Hugo of the Hills Parish, or a charity of your choice.