Dyan Sanderson, 71

Dyan "Dynie" Caldwell Sanderson, 71 of Napa Valley, passed away on Jan. 26, 2025, following the rapid onset of a rare blood disorder. 

She was born to Sydney "Bo" Upson Jones and Joan Marshall Caldwell in Miami Florida where her love of warm weather, sandy beaches, and palm trees originated.  

Dyan was nicknamed "Dynamite" by her father at a young age for her insatiable spirit. She kept that nickname and eventually came to be known as Dynie by all who knew her. That spirit of adventure led and followed Dynie throughout her life. 

As a young girl, she traveled extensively with her family, including her younger sister Debbie. Her mother, Joan, led this charge and took the girls on many international and domestic adventures. 

Dynie graduated Florida State University where she attended an exchange program in San Marino, Italy, which is where her love for travel, food, and wine seemed to be born! Following school she embarked upon a dynamically successful career in advertising sales, working for major radio stations across the US; traditional and online publishing; real estate sales and investing, and as a travel writer.  

Parenthood came into her life in 1986 and again in 1989 with the birth of her two daughters. Soon after she moved to Napa Valley California where she launched the valley's first high-end lifestyle magazine, Guest West. 

In 1997 while cheering on her younger daughter at a soccer game she met the man she would spend the rest of her years with, Dana Sanderson. He had three daughters and she two, together they formed what they affectionately referred to as "The Fab Seven."  

This love affair as a couple and a family took them to many corners of the world, including Whitefish where they own a second home. Whether it was camping in their family camper, frolicking on a warm beach, touring the Italian countryside, or shredding down a snow-covered mountain the girls learned and thrived on the adventurous life that Dynie so dramatically inspired. 

Dynie loved to stay busy and had a larger-than-life presence, and she loved creating and having her chill time. She leveraged her entrepreneurial spirit to build many of her own marketing and business brands including launching "Guest West Magazine," "Napa's Gourmet Realtor," "Dining with Dynie" and in 2015 "Napa Food Gal," a digital lifestyle publication highlighting the adventurous lifestyle she cherished (Napafoodgal.com). And, in 2000 she and her family planted Tadpole Vineyards, which became a beautiful boutique family winery and was synonymous with exceptionally fun harvest celebrations with friends and family. 

Becoming "empty nesters" enabled her and her husband to embark on the next phase of their life, to travel and explore extensively. Dynie's mantra of "Do it while you can and while you can remember it" resonates loud and clear and should be a message for all that there are no guarantees, live fully for today as you don't know what tomorrow will bring.   

Dynie was preceded in death by her father, Bo Jones (and later by her adoptive father, Gene Caldwell) and her mother, Joan Caldwell.  

She is survived by her husband, Dana, her two daughters, Lizbeth (Lia) and Lauren Lasch; her three stepdaughters and husbands, Jessica (Kevin) Dodd, Miranda Sanderson, and Danielle (Alex) Barton; her grandchildren, Kaylynn and Everett Dodd; her sister, Debbie (Jack) Downey and her family; cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Dynie will be laid to rest under the warm Florida sun at the Woodland Park Cemetery, close to the sand, palm trees, and ocean she so very loved. Her claim that "you can take the girl out of Florida but you can't take Florida out of the girl" survives. Celebration of Dynie's life ceremony dates will be forthcoming for both Napa and Whitefish. 

If you would like to make a donation in Dynie's honor. 

Aplastic Anemia International Foundation (AAMDSIF); www.aamds.org. 

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT Nairobi Elephant Orphanage); www.interland3.donorperfect.net.