Sandra Renée Harlow Samore

Sandra Renée Harlow Samore passed away in her home surrounded by her loving family on December 17, 2025 after a courageous battle with aggressive pancreatic stage IV cancer. After her diagnosis, Sandra responded with determination and unrelenting focus in the face of this devastating, relentless disease.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Sandra attended Morningside College in Sioux City. There she met her husband David when they were both cast in a summer community theater production of a musical melodrama. Their shared love of family, performance arts and travel guided them throughout their 50 years of life together.

Sandra graduated in 1976 with certifications to teach Theater and English. After a year of teaching in Colombia, Sandy and David moved north to Palm Beach County, Florida where she taught Drama and English, until earning her master’s degree in Library Media Science. Sandra was then a K-12 Library Media Specialist until her retirement in 2020.

In Spain, Sandra discovered her passion for flamenco dance in her 30s, which ignited a lifelong dedication to the art, performing professionally for 35 years. Sandra published her memoir, Freed By Flamenco, in 2022 describing her life journey of dance and motherhood, encouraging others to “make your own sunshine.”

An avid ballroom dancer, artist, athlete, gardener, pollinator advocate, and traveler, Sandy’s supreme pride and commitment was that of being the mother of her two sons. Sandra is survived by David, her husband of 48 years and her two sons, Dylan (Caryn) and Bradley (Yordanos),one grandson, her brother Richard Harlow (Elaine) and her sister Sherri Harlow Stanley (David).

There will be a celebration of Sandra Samore’s remarkable life on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11:00AM at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, all donations are encouraged to be sent to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org), or the Lustgarten Foundation (lustgarten.org).