In memory of Sandra 'Mania' Powers

[Wain]

I'm devastated to report that Sandra Powers, the power behind Petopia and creator of Warcraft Mounts, passed away from cancer on 25 January. She'd been fighting it for some years.

Known as Mania to Petopians, Sandra ran Petopia through WoW's golden age and is responsible for taking the small site and making it what it has become.

Sandra was funny, patient, smart, generous, and a great teacher. When she couldn't run it anymore she handed Petopia to me in the mid-2010s and taught me all I needed to know.

Sandra was an MMO producer and engineer who worked on Asheron’s Call, EverQuest II, and she and her husband Eric built their own MMO: Project Gorgon. The world is a worse place for her loss.

You can find Sandra's famous orc persona immortalised behind Trueshot Lodge in Highmountain.

Mania In Memoriam.jpg (825.43 KiB) Viewed 35435 times

[Wain]

Another obituary on the gaming site, 'Massively Overpowered':

https://massivelyop.com/2025/01/28/obit ... ssed-away/

[Vephriel]

I have no words. This really is heartbreaking, she's tied to so many of my early memories of this game and the hunter community, being here as long as I have.

It's been many years since I was in touch with her, I remember being really glad to hear about the MMO she'd started up. I hope the things that her and her husband worked on together and created can be a comfort to him and those close to them going forward.

Thank you for letting us know Wain, you've carried on the torch in her stead.

Rest in peace, Mania.

[Valnaaros]

That is very sad to hear. Before I became active on Petopia, I was just a lurker but would always appreciate Mania's hard work and effort here. She'll be greatly missed.

[Tsukina]

A sad day. A real shame. This site is part of my daily life, I log on to the forum every morning (I know I don't write much, especially because of the shame of the language barrier) but it's a sad day.

[Kalliope]

I haven't been active in the WoW community in many years, but I had to come back to pay my respects to Mania. She was the original heart of this community and made a huge difference in so many people's lives. We'll miss her.

[Bunny._.Harvestman]

This is such tragic news and a loss to the WoW community. Rest well, dear Hero of Azeroth. May you rest in peace and may we see you again in the great wild hunt beyond.

I hope you all don't mind but I shared this on Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/1 ... owers_has/

[Bunny._.Harvestman]

Mania In Memoriam.jpg

IDK if this is in poor taste, but can we get a special dedicated section for her on the webpage? I feel that we need to commemorate her in the place that she started. Just my 2cents.

[Wain]

This is such tragic news and a loss to the WoW community. Rest well, dear Hero of Azeroth. May you rest in peace and may we see you again in the great wild hunt beyond.

I hope you all don't mind but I shared this on Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/1 ... owers_has/

Thank you for sharing it further! She was loved and her work was appreciated by many and I'm glad that's showing in the response by the wider community.

[Ana]

Sad to hear that.
My thoughts goes to her friends and family

[Bendak]

Rest in peace, Mania.

For anyone who wants to take a trip down memory lane, this was Petopia’s “all pets” page as it was almost 20 years ago, back when there were 161 pet looks compared to the 2300+ today:

https://web.archive.org/web/20050731232 ... avors.net/

(Click “All pets” on the left)

[Flyra]

Rest in peace and many thanks for everything you've done for the community, Mania. ♥

[worgpower]

Rest in Peace, I’m lost for words, I’m thankful for what Mania has done and the huge impact made here, I’m happy blizzard created a npc for her

[Jadvya]

Rest in peace, Sandra, and thank you.

[WerebearGuy]

Rest in Peace. I have no memories of Mania outside of knowing that she ran the site before Wain, but this is still a devastating loss.

[pop]

It's been a while. Rest well, Mania. May your memories be forever be remembered in the howling winds of Highmountain to the realms beyond Aardenweald.

[Gimlion]

I haven’t posted in the forums in probably a decade. I spent a lot of time early in the days of WoW chatting here and Mania was always a blessing to interact with. Rest in peace, you were a shining star in our community. You made a home for Hunters everywhere.

[Suicune]

This is heartbreaking. Rest in peace Mania. Petopia has always been my go- to since before I even started playing back in BC. Friend told me to look at all the pets I would be able to tame, so I can say I was a fan of Petopia before I even rolled my first character!
Thank you for all you’ve done for the community, and to those you entrusted your work to. You will be missed.

[Varethyn]

Thank you, Mania, for creating this space for fellow pixel pet enthusiasts and for all your work, within and without. Petopia and Warcraft Mounts have been invaluable resources for many, many years. May you rest in peace.

[Syleye]

Such a loss, there really aren't words to describe what she did for all of us when she created.