Sandy Rosencrans … a Trailblazer

Last week TED shared that Sandy Rosencrans, the previous owner of City Electric in Syracuse, NY, and the recipient of the 2016 NAED Trailblazer Award, passed away recently.

For those who were not familiar with Sandy, she was the epitome of an entrepreneur and an industry “lifer”, having started in the electrical industry in 1979, being given the opportunity to invest in the company and then eventually purchasing the company.

In 2018 she sold the company to Sonepar.

Since then, I’ve had a number of people inquire if she had been ill and about how they can remember her.

According to her obituary, she passed away due to pancreatic cancer.

Donations can be made to:

• Francis House
• Hospice of Central New York, or
• Chadwick Residence

Her obituary, as published by the funeral home is:

“Sandy (O’Brien) Rosecrans passed away February 14, 2025, at home with her loving husband Edward at her side, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was passionate about family and living life to the fullest. Sandy was generous, compassionate and a role model for friends and family alike. She made you want to be a better person.

Sandy O’Brien was born on December 29, 1949, in Syracuse, NY, to the late Joseph and Jeanne (Bertrand) O’Brien. Sandy grew up in North Syracuse within a close-knit community alongside her family, many neighborhood friends, and numerous stray pets that seemed to follow her home. She attended St. Margaret’s School and graduated from Liverpool High School in 1968. In 1985, she married Edward Rosecrans, the love of her life. Sandy, Ed, and Ed’s son Garett settled in North Syracuse in the house she was raised in. Sandy and Ed currently live in Liverpool.

After graduating from high school, Sandy started working at Sysco Foods. She spent ten years there and discovered that she enjoyed and was good at the world of business. In 1979 she started her career at City Electric, Inc. in Syracuse as vice president of administration. Having a stake in the company was a high priority for her, and to make that happen she started exchanging her annual bonus for stock options. In 1985 she was promoted to president of the company. Seven years later when the owner put the company up for sale, Sandy took the bold step of putting together a buy-out plan. In 1992 after convincing banks she was a good bet, Sandy mortgaged her house, she and Ed maxed out credit cards, borrowed against their life insurance and personally guaranteed all debt to buy 51% of the company. As president and CEO, Sandy transformed an aging electrical distributor into a viable healthy company. In 1996 Sandy and Ed completed the rest of the buyout. She
continued to grow and improve the company, taking it from a single location in downtown Syracuse to twelve locations around upstate NY. Becoming one of the largest independent wholesale electrical distributors in NYS.

In 2013 Sandy was elected chair of the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). In 2016 she received the NAED Trailblazer Award for her leadership in a mostly male dominated industry. In 2018 after a long successful career, Sandy sold City Electric and retired.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sandy’s love for her family was the cornerstone of her life. Sandy was passionate about family and City Electric Inc., which she considered her extended family. She took the time to reach out to everyone and always made sure all were included – siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was very generous. She would help family, friends and even acquaintances that she thought needed a hand. She did this quietly without any fanfare.

Sandy and Ed spent winters at their home in Port Charlotte, FL. Summers were spent at their home on the St. Lawrence River, which they diligently and lovingly expanded and renovated. Sandy loved the river and actively participated in various local charities and organizations. She had a passion for gardening, had a very green thumb and even built a greenhouse. She also loved traveling, Sandy and Ed took many trips, cruises and river cruises. She loved Paul Simon, Downton Abbey and visiting with Mary Anne and Kendall Jackson.

Sandy’s heart was always open, and she gave back to the community through her charitable work with organizations like Chadwick House, Big Sisters of CNY, St. Vincent de Paul, and Breast Cancer Project Detect of Florida, among others. Her spirit of kindness and care extended far beyond her immediate circle, and she will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate to know her.

Sandy is survived by her loving husband, Edward Rosecrans; son, Garett Rosecrans; grandson, Edward G. Rosecrans; her siblings, Carol (William) Connell, Neil (Noreen) O’Brien, Wade (Susan) O’Brien, Robert (Heather) O’Brien, and Mary Anne Cogliandro; her nieces and nephews, Sara (Kevin)Brady, Ryan (Amy) Connell, Michael (Andrew) O’Brien, Hannah O’Brien, Alane O’Brien, Daryl (Jessica) O’Brien, Katherine (Colin) Tomlinson, Audra O’Brien, Ian Jeffers as well as many cousins, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Jeanne (Bertrand) O’Brien and brothers, John and Tommy O’Brien.

Though Sandy is no longer with us, the impact she made in this world remains. Her legacy of love, leadership, and generosity will continue to inspire all of us who were touched by her. Sandy lived a life filled with purpose. We celebrate her life—one full of bold steps, deep love, and an unwavering commitment to family. She will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever.”

You can leave a remembrance for her family by clicking here.

Sandy Rosencrans. A trailblazer. Rest in peace.