William (Bill) Sandy
A longtime San Francisco resident and active participant in community affairs, Bill died peacefully at the VA S.F. hospice unit on Sept 20, 2008 at age 91. Bill was born March 6, 1917 in Konigsberg, Germany, renamed Kaliningrad after the Russians captured the city. His
family arranged his escape from Nazi Germany at
age 19 and he arrived in S.F. April 1934 with just $20
and the clothes on his back.
After honorably serving our country in the U.S. Army Calvary and Veterinary Division (1941-46) he worked for the USDA as a meat inspector. After his retirement 25 years later, he ran his own meat broker business. He met his future wife Fay in Washington, D.C. and they were married in 1946.
For the past 50 years, Bill energetically devoted his time to bettering his community. His passions and sense of giving enabled him to establish lifelong friendships while generously supporting a wide range of charitable causes. His love, energy, and spirituality were deeply invested with his synagogue, as a Master Mason, with the Scottish Rite and Shrine Temple.
He served as past commander of the Jewish War Veterans, past board and choir member at Cong. Beth-Israel Judea, proud member of Starr King Lodge #136 F&AM, S.F. Scottish Rite, the Temple of the Shrine (S.F.), B’nai Brith, the Tenderloin Outreach Project, and Jewish Family Volunteer Services. He volunteered at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital when it was located in S.F. and was a Traveler’s Aid every Friday for over 15 years at SFO. He spoke German and was a natural speaking other languages.
Bill spent whatever spare time he had riding his horse, Zanzibar, and joined the Shriners riding group at many July 4th parades. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Fay; his children Steve (Martha) and Jerry (Beverlee) Sandy, Lynn (Michael) Lacy; five grandchildren Zac, Jordana, Natasha, Nathan and Brandon.
Funeral services were held at Cong. Beth Israel Judea, 625 Brotherhood Way, S.F. with interment at Salem Memorial Park, Colma. In lieu of flowers, send donations to VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement St, SF, CA 94121, C/O hospice unit. Sinai Memorial Chapel.