Donna Sanzo

Donna Marie “Dawn” Sanzo passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025, at Kaiser Hospital, in San Leandro. Donna’s fight was a long and courageous one, especially over her final three weeks. She suffered from ongoing medical issues. Donna leaves her son, Anthony (Gina), daughter, Monica, and son, Daniel; four Zarate grandchildren, Jakob, Joshua, Adrian, and Andrea; and former partner Danny Zarate, father of her three children. Donna was predeceased by her mother, Evelyn Sanzo, grandmother, Evelyn Meneice, father, Anthony Sanzo, and sister Cheryl “Bunny” Sanzo Wooldridge. Also, her stepmom Estella Sanzo and brother-in-law David Wooldridge. In addition to her immediate family, Donna is survived by her sister Antoinette “Toni” Heagerty (John), brother Terry Sanzo, and sister Debbi Sanzo Davis (Julian), as well as numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. Donna made her presence known assertively throughout her life, literally from Day One. Donna’s parents chose not to use their selected name for her, “Andrea Doria,” when the famed Italian luxury ocean liner Andrea Doria, carrying 1700 passengers, collided the day before Donna was born with another vessel and sank off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Sister Toni’s best friend, Donna Marie Williams, who was staying that night at the Sanzos, became the source of first and middle names for the newest member of the Sanzo family. Donna’s many friends, from as far back as her days at Grass Valley Elementary and Skyline High School, will miss her engaging personality, artistic flare, vibrant smile, and genuine interest in their lives. Donna showed early artistic talent as well as a strong work ethic. Donna got things done at the office, at her computer, and artistically when creatively designing signature (and collectable) dolls at the classic Bunny’s Doll Cottage she helped manage with her late sister. Donna continued to repair and restore vintage dolls into later life. Donna inherited her dad’s love for spacious wall designs, which always were part of where she lived and helped to define who she was. Her favorite pastimes were when she was painting and drawing. Her homes often included friends with four feet, most recently her beloved canine, French Fry. Donna truly enjoyed the serenity and the beauty of nature. She loved spending time in her RV out-of-doors. Donna had a special relationship with her sister Debbi, her best friend in life. For nearly 67 years, they were inseparable, talking by phone multiple times daily, unhindered during the past four years by the distance between Seattle and Oakland, or complications more recently due to Donna’s relentless and irreversible decline. In addition to many others, the family profoundly thanks Debbi for staying with Donna continuously through the difficult last three weeks of her life at Kaiser Hospital. The family will gather to celebrate her life and their loss. Final memorial services will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, 11am, at Santos & Robinson Mortuary, in San Leandro. In lieu of flowers, donors wishing to honor Donna’s legacy should contribute to an organization of their choice or to one dedicated to those afflicted by dependency, including Alcoholics Anonymous or another fine institution.

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