Whether it was the sales people she trained and encouraged to be the best they could be, or friends inspired by her zest for life and her loving nature.

Perhaps it was the "glimpse of heaven" she provided her longtime companion, Jack McGettigan.

It was no doubt a combination of these attributes that led people to gravitate to her to absorb a dose of that special something that came close to being a blessing.

Linda Landi, a top salesperson for Sprint Nextel and other communications firms, died Sunday of breast cancer. She was 57 and lived in Stevens, Lancaster County.

Linda was a traveler who liked the warm beaches of the Caribbean and Mexico, who loved to kick up her heels on the dance floor and who enjoyed a good wine with dinner. She was born and grew up in Philadelphia and lived in Willow Grove and Horsham before moving to Lancaster County 20 years ago.

Linda was an award-winning sales manager with Sprint Nextel, having started as a receptionist who worked her way up to sales management.

"Linda won so many awards they couldn't be counted," said Sprint branch manager Joseph Strempel, writing in an e-mail message when he learned she was ill.

"She took individuals who were struggling to survive and turned them into overachievers. Linda is a rock star, and she will always be in my eyes and the eyes of the people who knew her."

Co-worker Bill Brittingham wrote, "Linda is just a tremendous person that I have the ultimate respect and love for professionally. She groomed me and kept me balanced when needed. I would not be where I am today without Linda."

Her boss at Sprint, Kathryn Martz, said: "Linda has always been a special person who led her teams with determination, integrity and heart. Anyone who has been on 'Team Landi' is better for the experience of having worked for Linda."

McGettigan said: "If I ever got a glimpse of heaven, saw a clue about God or tried to envision the Jesus she loved and talked about so much, it was through those beautiful sparkling brown eyes."

A friend, Elaine Patti, wrote, "Let's continue our lives Linda Landi-style, just like she'd want. Let's honor her legacy with each day we have left, living life to the fullest, helping anyone we can along the way, just like Linda would."

She was born in Philadelphia to Louis Landi and the late Mary McRae. She attended St. Athanasius Parochial School and Cardinal Dougherty High School.

In addition to Sprint Nextel, she lent her sales talents to such companies as Motorola, Metromedia Communications and Mobilemedia.

She was a fan of old movies and enjoyed Broadway shows. "Phantom of the Opera" was a favorite. She liked to visit and camp on the Jersey Shore, and to vacation in Cancun and the Caribbean.

She loved her little Shih Tzu, Feebe, who died three months ago.

"From the first time I knew her, I called her angel," McGettigan said. "And if an angel is a special being sent from God to help you see and live better and more lovingly and completely, she truly was an angel in my own life."

Besides her father and McGettigan, her companion of more than 30 years, she is survived by two sisters, Susan Lucas and Patricia McFarland.

Services: Funeral Mass 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. David's Church, 316 N. Easton Road, Willow Grove. Friends may call at 8:30 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.