Sandra Pike Fitzpatrick

Sandra Pike Fitzpatrick Avery, 83, of Centennial, Colorado, passed away on March 10, 2026.

Sandra Sue Pike was born on November 16, 1942, to John Howard Pike and Mable Frances Cromwell. She graduated from Anderson High School in Lisbon, Ohio, in 1960 and went on to earn her degree from Youngstown State University in 1967.

During her college years, Sandra spent two summers working at Glacier National Park in northern Montana, traveling there one year by train from Ohio. After graduation, she worked for Hertz Car Rental in Southern California, where she met her first husband, James Thomas Fitzpatrick. While he served in the United States Air Force, Sandra accompanied him to Germany. They later returned to the United States to Scott Air Force Base before returning again to Germany, where Sandra taught classes in the military base education center for dependent children.

After James retired from active duty, they remained in Germany while he worked for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). Later, they moved to Apollo Beach, Florida, where Sandra also worked for AAFES. Eventually, she settled in Aurora, Colorado, purchasing a townhouse in the Heather Ridge South community.

Realizing that teaching was not her long-term passion, Sandra used her accounting minor to transition into the financial field. She built a successful career as a fund analyst with OppenheimerFunds, where she worked until her retirement in January 2009.

Following her divorce, Sandra lived independently for several years before meeting David Luther Avery. Dave had been widowed after the passing of his first wife, Joan, following a serious health event after 32 years of marriage. Sandra and Dave married in 2007 and later made their home together in Centennial, Colorado.

Sandra loved traveling and exploring new places. She traveled to all 50 states and particularly enjoyed a memorable rail journey across Canada from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. With Dave, she also traveled internationally to Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, touring the entire country on a circular trip beginning and ending in Dublin. An avid hiker, she spent many happy hours exploring the outdoors with Dave.

She was also an enthusiastic reader and a longtime member of two book clubs, always eager to share and discuss the latest book she had enjoyed. Sandra was a member of the Mount Rosa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Aurora Red Hat Society. She had a special place in her heart for animals and always loved having pets in her life, especially her beloved cats.

In her later years, Sandra faced several health challenges and courageously endured three separate battles with breast cancer, the final of which proved fatal.

Sandra is lovingly remembered by her husband, Dave Avery; her children, Jennifer (James) Rudsenske and John (Christina) Fitzpatrick; her grandchildren, John Jr., Violet, and James Fitzpatrick; and her brother, Robert Pike.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Dana Colleen Fitzpatrick; her first husband, James Thomas Fitzpatrick; her brother, Jack Pike; and her sister, Patricia Pike.

Sandra was a kind and thoughtful person who made the world better through the care and compassion she showed to others. Her loved ones always knew they were cherished, because she never missed a chance to tell them she loved them.

She will be deeply missed by her family and remembered for her kindness, curiosity about the world, love of books and travel, and the lasting joy she found in her family and friendships.