Sandra O. (O'Brien) Guy

Sandra (“Sandy”) O. Guy passed away peacefully at her assisted living home in Charlotte, NC on December 14, 2021, surrounded by her loving family and cherished caregivers. Born in Binghamton, NY, on December 21, 1933, to Francis J. O’Brien and Mary Preuss O’Brien, Sandy lived in this warm-hearted and loving community for most of her life. In her later years when she needed care, she moved to Charlotte, NC, to be close to her daughter, Maile. Sandy attended Binghamton High School, where she met her lifelong love, Robert (“Bobby”) N. Guy, followed by Hood College in Fredericksburg, MD. After college, she pursued her love of travel by working as a flight attendant, which provided abundant opportunities to experience new places and make new friends. Sandy and Bobby were married in a joyous celebration on July 25, 1959. Their shared love of travel took them many places, but Hawaii was by far their favorite destination. In the 1970’s, they moved to Honolulu with their 3 children to escape the cold weather for a few years. Decades later, their children still reminisce fondly about their carefree Hawaiian life when the Pacific Ocean served as their backyard swimming pool. Sandy’s Binghamton ties ran deep. She loved people and was in turn, known and loved throughout the community. During her distinguished career in real estate, which spanned nearly 50 years, she never tired of helping people find their dream home. She was honored with the title “Realtor of the Year” countless times and, in 2015, received a lifetime distinguished service award from the Greater Binghamton Association of Realtors, Inc. A pillar of the community, Sandy volunteered, often in leadership positions, for dozens of organizations and charitable causes dear to her heart. She served as President of the Broome County Board of Realtors and held board positions for the Roberson Museum and Science Center in Binghamton, The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier, and the Junior League of Binghamton. Sandy cherished her many lifelong friends and always made time to enjoy their company. A talented chef, she could whip up almost anything and was always researching new recipes to try out on friends and family. She loved to share memories of the fancy, white-gloved dinners and galas she and Bobby attended at the Binghamton Country Club with their friends during her earlier years. Later, she, Bobby, and many of their friends started a gourmet dinner club where copious amounts of wine, great company, and good cheer were standard fare. Sandy and Bobby also founded, owned, and operated a renowned local dining establishment, the Scotch ‘N Sirloin Restaurant—one of the first steakhouses of its kind, where excellent food, great service, and customer appreciation were always on the menu. Sandy was the culinarian behind many of its treasured recipes. Through their experiences at this special restaurant and with its amazing staff, the couple’s three children learned life lessons in how to do things “the right way” instead of just the easy way. Sandy was an avid tennis and paddle tennis player and also enjoyed golf— more for fun than skill. One of her fondest memories was traveling with her lady friends to Scotland to golf at the renowned Old Course at St. Andrews where they had to fib (just a tiny bit) about their handicaps in order to play. Let’s just keep that one a secret. Sandy was predeceased by her husband, Robert Newell Guy; her parents, Francis J. O’Brien and Mary Preuss O’Brien; her only sibling, James F. O’Brien; her in-laws Robert Bates Guy and Marion Newell Guy; her brother-in-law Donald S. Connery, and her nephew James Francis O’Brien Jr. She is survived by brother-in law Peter Newell Guy (Barbara) of New Castle, CO; sisters-in-law Leslie Guy Connery of Kent, CT and Karol O’Brien of St. Augustine, FL; son Brett Newell Guy of Annapolis, MD; daughter Maile Anne Allen (Ross) of Waxhaw, NC; and son Patrick Brian Timothy Guy (Kathryn) of Binghamton, NY. Sandy also leaves behind her precious grandchildren, Tabbitha Lynne Fink, Alaina Kristine Fink, Carson James Fink, Aleksandrs Milins Allen, Brayden Robert Rives Allen, Cooper Michael Guy, Quinton Baker Allen and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Sandy’s bright smile and love of life will be missed by all. Funeral services will be held at 11 am on January 7, 2022, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Binghamton, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 7845 Little Avenue, Charlotte, NC, 28226.  Mass will be available by livestream on tinyurl.com/12w5eun

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