Credit: Sandy Mortensen
Pictured above: Frisco Mayor Gary Wilkinson, right, presents Sandy Mortensen with the Frisco’s Finest Award on Feb. 11, 2020, at the Frisco Town Hall.
Credit: Sawyer D’Argonne /
Sandy Mortensen moved to Summit County in 1977, and within the month was volunteering at Silverthorne Elementary School. She continues to volunteer in the community. Her passion for orchestral music lead her to attend National Repertory Orchestra concerts, joining and chairing their Board, helping establish their charitable fund and the Sustainer Group of Supporters.
Born in New Jersey, Sandy Mortensen made Summit County her home in 1977. Right from the start, she dove into community involvement, lending her support to local schools and serving on various County boards. She played a pivotal role in fundraising for important projects like Dillon Valley Elementary School, the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, and the new Colorado Mountain College building.
Her passion for the arts led her to become a dedicated patron of the National Repertory
Orchestra (NRO) when it moved to Keystone. In 1997, Nancy Follett extended an invitation for Sandy to join the NRO Board. Sandy stepped up as Board President in both 2004 and 2005 and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the NRO charitable fund. In 2006, alongside three other former board members, she co-founded the Sustainers of the NRO, a group that continues to provide unwavering support to the Organization.
Sandy’s commitment to community service extended beyond the NRO, as she remained an active participant on various County boards. Her service extended to the Summit County Preschool Board and the Summit County Accountability Committee. Her journey also led her to join the Rotary Club of Summit County in 1991, where she chaired their charitable fund, served as president, and later assumed the role of District Governor for Rotary District 5450 in 2018-19. In 1998, the Women of the Summit recognized Mortensen with their first Athena Award, a national honor meant to recognize women who open doors for others through their professional accomplishments and community involvement.
Sandy is the proud mother of four grown children and grandmother to five grandchildren. She earned a degree in physical therapy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1965 and went on to operate three successful Physical Therapy clinics before retiring in 2001. Her first post-retirement project was designing and constructing an award-winning off-grid home north of Silverthorne. Sandy remains active, skiing in winter, hiking in summer, and golfing year-round.
We honor Sandy as our 2024 Woman of Distinction: Now.
