Sandy was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of a career navy man and a homemaker. When her dad returned from WWII he remained in the navy and was assigned to many international postings.

Sandy attended her first two years of high school in Paris, and enjoyed their many travels, other than that time she almost fell off a mountain in Norway. (She learned not to wear loafers while sightseeing in the winter.)

She studied biology and chemistry in St Louis, and became an oceanographer. Her first job was with the Smithsonian and then the naval oceanographic department. As a civilian naval employee, she was the first female to go to sea on a research vessel.

Switching to work on land, Sandy went to work at the Dept of Interior. A few years later, there was federal reduction and many people were losing their jobs. Fortunately, she kept hers, but it did make her more aware of the need to be able to land on her feet, no matter what happened.

There came a time she realized the work was taking a toll on her physical and emotional health and she retired from federal employment.

Sandy credits her mother as her greatest influence. After moving from country to country with her family, she took her artistic skills to a professional level, becoming celebrated for her paintings and sculptures.

Sandy was offered a job at one of the first independent packing and mailing businesses in Alexandria, VA, the Old Town Post Box. There she met her future wife, Barbara. They worked together, later buying the business and running it for almost 20 years.

She joined Barbara’s pool team, competing in tournaments, and they came in runner up at the championships in Las Vegas. Always family orientated, Sandy lived closest to her parents, helping to care for them as they aged.

The biggest change she has seen for women is the ability to decide who you are and not worry about what others think.

She’d like to be remembered as an upbeat person, a calming influence and negotiator, who did not seek attention for herself.