Cheryl Mecartea Sanadidi

Cheryl Mecartea Sanadidi, beloved and respected educator, died on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, of complications related to Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA). She was 70 years old.

Cheryl was born in 1950 in Houston, Texas, to parents, Ken and Dorothy Sorensen. She spent her childhood in Kasson, Minnesota, where she relished ice skating in winters, fishing and boating in summers, soaking up knowledge in her one-room schoolhouse, devouring farm fresh corn and milk, and eating her family’s famous beer-battered walleye and sour creamed eggs.

At age 13, Cheryl moved from Minnesota with her family to El Sobrante, California, with her three siblings. An avid reader, Cheryl graduated from De Anza High School during the civil rights and anti-war movements both of which she was a part. In 1975, Cheryl moved to Los Angeles with her first husband, Michael Mecartea, to further their careers in entertainment. They shared two children.

A lifelong learner and dreamer, Cheryl had several careers throughout her life. She started out modeling in San Francisco and Los Angeles where she was featured in Mademoiselle, Cosmopolitan, and Seventeen magazine. After becoming a parent, Cheryl was a stay-at-home mom, dedicated to raising her daughters. She then graduated from the Massage School of Santa Monica in 1988 and later opened her own massage business called the Body Wrap.

While Cheryl was raising kids and managing her business, she met the love of her life, Dr. Medy Sanadidi, who has two children from his first marriage. The two bonded over their love of learning, adventure, cooking, and travel and worked to merge their two families with loving intention. They have been committed to one another since 1990.

Through her young adulthood, Cheryl worked toward her undergraduate degree and received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from UCLA in 2000. She received High Honors and assisted in research studies in the Department of Psychology. Upon graduating, Cheryl then transitioned to her final and most cherished career, working as an Adult Education Instructor for Second Language Learners. She specialized in teaching reading and was known for her patience and kindness as well as teaching confidence to students who felt marginalized.

Cheryl lived life with joy, enthusiasm, and curiosity. Even as she faced and battled MSA over the last almost 8 years, she did it with grace and kindness. Her warmth and wit will be missed. She is survived by: her husband, Medy; two daughters, Meagan (Greg) Patterson and Shauna (Jason) Zotalis; two stepchildren, Azza and Ezedin Sanadidi; three grandchildren; and two siblings, Randy Sorensen and Nancy Toner.

A funeral service will be held in her honor on June 18th at 9 am at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Ave, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275.
A livestream for the Funeral Service will can be viewed at:
https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/652319480

A viewing will be held on June 17th 4-6 pm in the Cove Room at Green Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in her honor to Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA) research through the MSA Coalition: https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org/