Alexandra McCoy
(age 100)
February 10, 2023
Alexandra (Sandra) Ueland McCoy, of Lafayette Park in Detroit, Michigan, died on Friday, February 10, 2023. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 12, 1922, to Sigurd Ueland and Julie Plant Ueland, Sandra grew up surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in an idyllic place she called “Uelandia.”
After completing two years at Smith College, Sandra graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1944. She later earned an M.A. in American History at Indiana University, and completed her PhD. in American History at Wayne State University in 1965. She joined the faculty at Monteith College at Wayne and in 1979 moved to Wayne’s Department of Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts until she retired in 1991.
Sandra moved with her family to Lafayette Park in downtown Detroit in 1963. Beginning in 1991, she shared her townhouse with her twin sister Jeannie for twenty-five years until Jeannie’s death in 2016. The two sisters were active together in Belle Isle Runners, a Shakespeare reading club, journeys to Stratford and travel around the world.
Sandra McCoy loved poetry, good books, history, politics, laughter and conversation, gin & tonics in the summer and old fashion’s in the winter. She is survived by her children, Colin McCoy and Julie Griffin, son-in-law Rick Griffin, grandchildren Richard Griffin and Duncan Griffin, brother Sigurd (Sissy) Ueland, nephew Timothy (Terry) Pile, and many cousins, nephews, nieces and beloved friends and helpers.
Pending Arrangements at this time
Sincerest condolences to the family for the loss of your beloved. I will fondly remember her always as a vibrant social being, with highest regard for her intellect and genuine interest in the well-being of not only those in her inner circle, but our ever challenging world at large. I feel privileged to have gotten to know her and she will be deeply missed.
Condolences to the family and friends. My heart grew when meeting Sandra and Jeannie years ago. I never experienced an Old Fashion until Sandra insisted we had one together, the night Jeannie passed. Sandra did make the best. I imagine Jeannie at the gates, saying “What took you so long,” handing her a drink, and ready to banter wholeheartedly on anything and everything. Special lady! Her wisdom and humor had no bounds.