Sandra V. Dull

Sandra V. Dull (“Sandy”), aged 84, of Greenville, DE, passed away on May 16, 2023.  Sandy was born in 1938 in Kansas City, Mo, the eldest of 9 children to Joseph P. and Helen Pytel Vajdic.

Sandy was a sparkle of life.  She was an exceptional student, graduating from college at age 18.  She met John, her adoring husband of 65 years, when they sat across the aisle from each other in an economics class at the Kansas City Junior College.  She went on to receive her degree in education at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.  She and John married in 1958 and moved to Wilmington in 1960, when John accepted a position with DuPont.

Sandy had a most enjoyable career as a teacher. She taught elementary classes in the Brandywine district and then middle school English at Tower Hill School.  She also earned a master’s degree in linguistics at the University of Delaware.

In 1984, Sandy and John moved to Geneva, Switzerland for 5 years.  She was appointed Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to coordinate a program encouraging developing nations to recognize the importance of free enterprise in their economies.

Sandy was deeply involved in Delaware community affairs.  She was president of Delaware Guidance Services and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Community Foundation.  While on the Board, she established the Delaware Fund for Women which provides grants to support a wide range of nonprofit organizations’ programs that specifically benefit women and girls in Delaware.  Earlier, she was a Fellow in Leadership Delaware and was appointed Commissioner for the Wilmington Housing Authority.

Sandy had an intense interest in art and loved visiting art museums in the U.S., Europe and Asia.  She was a Delaware Art Museum docent. She also enjoyed opera and theatre, especially drama.  She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and was fortunate to visit many places around the world.  Sandy also had a lifetime dedication to physical activity.  She played excellent tennis and enjoyed walking, running and other physical training.  Her strength and fitness were major factors in enabling her to combat Parkinson’s Disease for many years.

Above all else, she deeply loved her family.  She was the perfect Granny for her grandchildren and great grandchildren who shared wonderful times with her.  She was a fabulous cook with an impressive cookbook collection and loved preparing elaborate meals for her family and many friends.

Sandy is survived by her husband John, and three children, Joan Young (Rudy), John Daulton (Barbara), and Joyce McGhee (Ned), four grandchildren, Holly Daulton Brown, Amanda Daulton Scheffel, Keegan Young, and Ellie McGhee, and four great grandchildren, Maddox and Lorelai Brown, and Emma and Caroline Scheffel.  She also is survived by three sisters and a brother, Vicki Jacques, Ruth Ann Swanell, Joan Elgin and Paul Vajdic.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the healthcare staff of the Country House and the Acts Hospice staff for their tender and loving care of Sandy.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 2, in the Chapel at the Country House, 4830 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE, and a reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her memory to the Fund for Women, PO Box 15101, Newark, DE 19711.  Delaware Today (May 9, 2018), Delaware’s Fund for Women Marks 25 Years