Sandra Lynn Steele of Frederick, Maryland, passed away on January 30, 2015.Born on March 17, 1959 in Arlington, Virginia, she was the beloved daughter of Samuel Robert Steele and Sara Tyler Steele of New Bern, North Carolina. Sandy graduated from Slidell Senior High School in Slidell, Louisiana, and continued her education at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. She enjoyed antiquing and attending auctions throughout the east coast, and collected decorative silk hand fans as well as antique cigar boxes. Ms. Steele worked in the home furnishings and design industry for her entire career, working her way through the ranks from sales representative positions with several wallcovering and fabric companies to management in major design and furnishing showrooms. Notably, she held senior management positions at French Country Living, Great Falls, Virginia; and at the Niermann Weeks showroom in the Washington Design Center, Washington, DC. Ultimately, Sandy found her home in the antique industry in Frederick, Maryland, where she was the general manager at Antique Imports for many years. Most recently, she opened the Loft at AI, which encompassed several floors in one of the largest buildings in downtown Frederick. As the President and CEO of the Loft at AI, Sandy realized her dream of owning her own business by creating a unique business model which included a design studio, wall coverings and fabrics, antique and designer furniture, and extensive home furnishing accessories. Sandy immersed herself in the business community and was deeply involved with numerous charities throughout the region. She was a current officer and founding member of the DC Design House. Until recently, she served on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Frederick Partnership. She formerly held an executive position on the Frederick Arts Council and had also served on the Board of Directors for the Tourism Council of Frederick County. In addition to her parents, Sandra is survived by her brother Samuel Robert Steele, Jr, his wife Charlotte, and their children Shane, Erica, Danielle, Nathan, Luke and Logan; her brother Scott Tyler Steele, his wife Kimberly, and their daughter Ava; and her sister Susan Rebecca Steele, and her daughter Leann. She was predeceased by one brother, Stephen Lewis Steele. Services will be held at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701, on Sunday February 15th, at 2;00 pm with a reception immediately following at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, 40 South Carroll Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the DC Design House, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, in honor of Sandra L. Steele, Founding Member, Corporate Officer and Board Member, DC Design House. All annual profits from the DC Design House go to benefit Children's National Health System. Online donations may be made via http://giving.childrensnational.org/sandrasteele.
