CLINGER, Sandra Gail (Shipman), 66, Valrico, it is
with deep sadness that
we advise you she passed away peacefully on
September 20, 2007 after a courageous seven year fight
against brain cancer.
Sandy impressed everyone she knew and met.
She was unquestionably a fighter who set a high
example for all of us to follow.

Sandy was born May 16, 1941 at Tampa General Hospital
to Donald and Alma (Courter) Shipman. She attended
Jackson Heights Elementary, Franklin Middle School,
and graduated from Hillsborough High School where she
was a member and secretary of the National Honor
Society, Student Council Representative, a member of
the A Cappella Group, the Dancerettes, Vice President
of Opti-miss Club and Head Majorette for the
"Terriers."
Wishing to fulfill her desire to become a math
teacher, Sandra attended Florida State University,
graduating with a BS degree in Education in just 3 ¿
years. While attending FSU, she was selected as a
Junior Counselor, the official school representatives
assisting incoming FSU female students in their
adjustment to college life. She was also an active
member of Delta Zeta Sorority,
The FSU Flying Circus, and a member of the Sigma Chi
Sweetheart Court.

At FSU, Sandra met her husband, Anthony (Tony)
Clinger. Following their graduation from FSU, Sandy
and Tony were married on January 19, 1963, at the
historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa.

Her first teaching position was at Dalzell High School
in South Carolina, outside the gates of Shaw AFB, SC,
where her husband was serving his military commitment.
Three years later their family returned to Tampa,
where Sandra resumed her teaching career at Coleman
Junior High School and Brandon High School. While at
Brandon, she was selected as a participant in the
Florida Master Teacher Program. In addition, she
received the Teacher Excellence Award from the
University of Texas.

In 1985 her husband was assigned to the GTE World
Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. During their
tenure there, Sandra earned her Masters degree in
Education from the University of Western Connecticut
in Danbury, CT, while continuing to broaden her math
teaching experience at Greenwich High School and
Middlebrook Junior High School in Wilton, CT, where
she received several national and local professional
awards.
The family returned to Tampa in 1998 where she taught
at the new Riverview High School. The following year
Sandra was promoted to math department head at
Bloomingdale High School where she remained until her
health forced her into early retirement.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, she
was very active in family activities specifically when
it involved her children and grandchildren. She also
found time to be active in the Jr. Women's Club of
Brandon and her church choir and women's guild.

She was preceded in death by her younger sister,
Patricia Carol Shipman Beasley.

Sandy is survived by her loving family, her mother and
father,
her husband of 44 years, Tony,
sons, Ric and
John,
and daughter, Stacie (Dan) Marlin, and
eight precious grandchildren,
Austin, Jenna, Brittany, Brendan, Katie, Emma, Madison
and Abigail,
All of whom she dearly loved.

A reception with Sandra's family for relatives and
friends will take place from 7 pm - 9 pm, Friday,
September 28, 2007 at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home,
6919 Providence Road, Riverview, FL.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday,
September 29, 2007 at 10:30 am at Nativity Catholic
Church, 705 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, FL, followed by
internment at Myrtle Hill Memorial Cemetery, 4207 East
Lake Avenue, Tampa, FL.
After the burial, the family will receive guests at
the Clinger home in Valrico, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in
memory of Sandra to the following organizations that
played an integral part in prolonging her quality of
life:

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke
Duke University Medical Center,DUMC Box 3624,Durham, NC 27710
Online Donation:http://www.cancer.duke.edu/btc/modules/waystohelp10/index.php?id=2
Note on donation:In memory of Sandra S. Clinger.

Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, P.O. Box 550985, Tampa, FL 33655-0985.
Note on donation:In memory of Sandra S. Clinger for specific use by the
Neuro-Oncology program.

The American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Suite 146, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018-4110
Online Donation:http://www.abta.org/index.cfm?contentid=54
Note on donation: In memory of Sandra S. Clinger, to be specifically used for malignant brain tumor research.