Alicia Rose Sanderman passed away peacefully, at her family home in Mendham Township, NJ, surrounded by her husband, sister, and parents on May 7, 2026. She was 43.

Visitation will be held from 3-5:30 pm with a prayer service at 5:30pm on Monday, May 11th at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham.  Interment will be held on Tuesday, May 12th at 10:30 am at Maryrest Cemetery, 770 Darlington Ave Mahwah. 

A memorial Mass will be held at a later date.

She is survived by her husband, Gustavo Gutierrez, her sister Janine Gale and brother-in-law Ross Gale, her two nephews, James and Ollie Gale, her parents, Robert and Barbara Sanderman, her Grandmother Sanderman, mother-in-law Rossy Gutierrez, brothers-in-law Kevin and Fabricio Gutierrez, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many extraordinary and beloved friends.

Alicia spent her career teaching English to non-native speakers. She was an award-winning professor of English Language for Academic Purposes at Montgomery College in Maryland where she lived. Alicia was a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and received her master’s degree from Georgetown University.

Alicia and her husband, Gustavo, loved traveling and explored many areas of the world together, including Japan, Thailand, Europe and South America. They particularly enjoyed Gus’ native Peru. In her last months, Alicia began the process of becoming a Peruvian resident.

As a seven-year cancer survivor, Alicia was grateful for the friends she found through local branches of cancer support organizations such as the Breasties and Hope Connections, who provided the invaluable compassion, encouragement, and understanding that only fellow travelers could offer.

To honor her memory, colleague Roseli Ejzenberg petitioned Montgomery College to create the Alicia R. Sanderman Fellowship. This Fellowship provides one faculty member per year with the opportunity to create their own program of personal, intellectual, and professional growth along with somewhat reduced teaching responsibilities.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the following:

Alicia R. Sanderman Fellowship (Montgomery College, Maryland):

Make check payable to Montgomery College Foundation;

Important: In the memo line please indicate: Alicia R. Sanderman Fellowship.

Send to:

ATTN: Montgomery College Foundation

c/o: Javi Alarcon  

9221 Corporate Blvd. E331R

Rockville, MD 20850

For online donations:

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/give

Select OTHER from the drop-down menu.

Important: In Comments box indicate Alicia R. Sanderman Fellowship.

Breasties - https://thebreasties.org/

A national organization with a mission to support and improve the experiences of the cancer community through peer-to-peer connection, resources, and advocacy. 

Hope Connections - https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org/

Local to Maryland, Hope Connections provides programs for people with cancer and their loved ones to help deal with the emotional and physical impact of cancer.