Obituary of Sandra G. Wagenfeld

WESTPORT, CONN Sandra Gail Wagenfeld died peacefully from cardiac arrest at her home in Westport, CT on October 20, 2025. She was 85 years old. Born in 1940 in Dallas, TX to Duron Alvin Dainwood and Bertha Violet Dainwood, Sandra attended North Texas State University, graduating with a degree in English. She was a proud member of the Delta Gamma sorority, where she made many dear, lifelong friends. After joining American Airlines as a flight attendant, Sandra moved to the New York City area in the early 1960’s, where she met her future husband, lawyer Robert Edward Wagenfeld. Together, they lived in Staten Island, NY and Greenwich Village, and were devoted supporters of the arts, particularly the opera. Sandra worked in arts management at the Staten Island Council on the Arts, and for the Erick Hawkins Dance Company. She went on to found Swing Shift, an administrative employment agency with offices in both NYC and Greenwich, CT. After moving to Westport, CT in 1988, Sandra became active in politics, lending her time and fundraising expertise to many local and national campaigns. After her husband Robert’s death in 1996, she continued to pursue many philanthropic activities throughout the rest of her life. She is pre-deceased by her brother Duron Alvin Dainwood. There will be a graveside ceremony on Saturday November 1 at 10:30am at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport, CT. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Sandra G. Wagenfeld Fund at The Campaign School at Yale (www.TCSYale.org/donate, EIN Number 22-3275455). The Fund will be used for tuition scholarship support, and to sponsor TCSYale: The Basics, one-day candidate training programs throughout the United States. For more information, please contact Patti Russo PRusso@TCSYale.org or 203-734-7385. The Harding's of Westport are directing the arrangements.