Sandy K Jensen

Sandy Jensen passed away on February 14, 2024, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI, of ovarian cancer. 

Sandy was born on February 16, 1972, in Baraboo, WI, to Monica Zimmer and John Jensen. The oldest of 3 girls, Sandy grew up in North Freedom and Baraboo, and had many fond memories of rambling outside with her sisters and cousins, spending time at Devil’s Lake, and playing video games.

Sandy graduated from Baraboo High School and attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she received a BA in Political Science, with a focus on Political Philosophy. After living in Beijing, China and Chicago, IL, Sandy moved to New York City to attend City University of New York School of Law. While attending CUNY, Sandy met Nadya Rosen, who became her partner. 

Sandy lived in Brooklyn, NY, after law school. She and Nadya welcomed a son, Sasha, in 2008. They were married in February 2012 after New York State legalized same-sex marriage. In 2017, the family moved to Madison where they lived until Sandy’s death. 

Sandy’s natural curiosity and love of learning carried on throughout her life. She was always reading a book or a newspaper and had multiple radios throughout the house tuned to WPR. Sandy was good at almost everything she did, from athletic feats to crossword puzzles, to creating elaborate games for her son. Sandy loved being a parent and took great pride in raising a son who was thoughtful, true to himself, and kind to others.

Sandy also loved the outdoors and became a bird watcher during her first rounds of chemotherapy in 2020. She took many camping trips over the years in the Adirondacks in New York and throughout Wisconsin. One of her greatest joys was bike riding, and in her last year she was so fortunate to use an electric bike to ride around her beloved Madison in the summertime.

Sandy also had a strong belief in social justice. She supported universal health care for all and was grateful that her job at Dane County meant that she did not incur debt when she became ill and needed significant medical care. The family is asking that any donations in Sandy’s name be made to RIPMedicalDebt, a non-profit organization that purchases medical debt in bulk and erases that debt for people around the country. 

Sandy is survived by her wife, Nadya; son, Sasha; parents, Monica (Gary) Zimmer and John (Alice) Jensen; sisters, Carrie (Josh) Duggan and Wendy (Kelly) Jensen; nieces, Taylor Duggan and Maya Pelletier; nephews, Beckett Duggan, Bodhi O’Brien, and Huck O’Brien; mother-in-law, Lynn Rosen; and sisters-in-law, Alice (Ben) Rosen and Margot (Eileen) Rosen.

Please join us to celebrate and remember the life of Sandy Jensen:

Sunday, March 3, 2024 from 12:30-3:30 PM

Light fare and beverages provided

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Evjue Commons

3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI

There will be time to visit with the family followed by an opportunity to share memories of Sandy with the group at 2pm.

If moved to donate, please consider RIPmedicaldebt.org or bit.ly/rosenjensen.