Sandra “Sandy” Ragan

SACO – Sandra “Sandy” Ragan, 77, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Oct. 4, 2025, at The Landing at Saco Bay Memory Care Facility in Saco.

Born in Baltimore, Md., to Franklyn and Margaret Ragan, Sandy grew up in Dundalk and graduated from Dundalk High School before earning her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland. Even while pursuing graduate studies, she displayed remarkable drive and vision. In her 20s she founded the first of her two highly successful interior design firms, the Friday Design Group in Georgetown.

Sandy’s talent and leadership quickly gained recognition. She served on the board and later as National President of the institute of business Design (IBD), which evolved into the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). She was honored as a Fellow of the Institute, and throughout her career authored and edited several books on design and color. Her extraordinary sense of color was admired and respected by all who worked with her.

Life brought an unexpected blessing in 1977 when she hired architect Thom Rousselle to join her firm. Their partnership soon grew into something much deeper, and in 1982 they purchased a home in Biddeford Pool. Two years later, they were married, beginning a loving journey that would span more than 40 years together.

Sandy cherished time spent with family and friends, welcoming all into her home with warmth and generosity. She loved entertaining, cooking, and baking, and she found joy in sailing, traveling, and cross-country skiing in her younger years. Her commitment to community was evident in her leadership with the renovation of Union Church in Biddeford Pool and her efforts to raise funds for the restoration of Wood Island Lighthouse.

A favorite quote of hers, from Henry David Thoreau, reflected how she approached life: “When you kill time, you injure eternity.” Sandy truly never wasted a moment.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Thom Rousselle; her three brothers, Richard Ragan, Dan Ragan, and Douglas Ragan, her sisters-in-law, Réne Ragan, Cindi Ragan, and Jacquie Peverell; and her eight beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service honoring Sandy will be held at the Union Church, 3 Stonecliff Rd., Biddeford Pool, on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10:30 a.m. A celebration of life will follow at the Nonantum Resort, 95 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport, from 12 to 2 p.m.

To view Sandra’s memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit http://www.cotefuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sandy’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/heatherbegun/in-memory-of-sandra-ragan