Sandra Lee Rinaldi Sciola, a passionate gardener, excellent solver of crosswords, lifelong lover of Jeopardy!, and avid appreciator of Siamese cats and Shetland Sheepdogs, passed away on April 11, 2026. Raised in Becket, Massachusetts, Sandy spent a brief period of time living abroad before returning to the Berkshires. In 2017, she relocated to North Carolina to be closer to family.

Sandy was born on August 3, 1959 to Marjorie Drummond and Anthony Rinaldi in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. A truly compassionate person, she held many helper roles throughout her life,including at the Berkshire Talking Chronicle, the Rape Crisis Center, Kripalu Center for Yoga &Health, and the Tutorial Services office at Berkshire Community College. She had a curious mind, and spent many hours of her life reading. Sandy also had an infectious laugh, and it was common for her to get into fits of laughter when spending time with her sister Cyndie, or when watching The Honeymooners with her husband, Ben.

Sandy will be lovingly remembered by Benedetto Sciola, her husband of 35 years, children Sarah Kermensky (Nathan Clevenger), Hailey Rinaldi (Brady Haig), Ben Sciola Jr. (Melissa Sciola), Dan Sciola (Kelly Sciola), Nicole Pona (John Pona) and her grandchildren Ian Haig, Phoebe Haig, Lily Sciola, Nora Sciola, Landon Sciola, Luke Sciola, Kenzie Pona, and Ellie Pona as well as members of her extended family.

A memorial to celebrate Sandy’s life will be held in summer 2026.