Sandra Jean Allen

So many years have passed since we saw Sande and Brad. I was just starting to write belated Christmas cards and your address is still on page 1 of my address book. I just found this notice and knew I had to write. Sande and Brad were in our wedding in 1972 and we were in theirs in 1973. Somehow life just got in the way of staying in touch. I am so sorry, Brad. Sande did have the best smile. Take care.

To my fellow dear friends of Sande Allen, at this very sad time, please forgive me in advance for the following lengthy, maybe a bit indulgent, detailed for a reason, personal tale of mine/ours. Brad asked me to “share some of my many memories”. I have not been asked to do something like this before and it is an honor. For me it means being very personal and hopefully uplifting, not funny. I will touch upon some other special memories briefly 1st, then recount one of them at length, one that sums up for me what our times together were like and in particular what Sande was like "in action", It is a story I have told at length many, many times and think of often!!! So, some may reflect on playing Fleetball (were there “rules “ I can’t recall them) in Carmichael park on weekends, or on the “secret, but then disastrously unveiled, ketchup anointed smash up on a curve in Santa Cruz, or Granny Davidson’s English classes at El Camino, comprehended only by those “in the know”…i.e. Sande and Co. (never by this writer), or the VW time trials down Lombard street, or going to the SF Zoo with Charlie and my daughter Analie (getting a big time tongue licking from the cows) or going Pinot Noir sampling in Napa or becoming “high” smelling the Eucalyptus trees on the 101 after landing in THE CITY from the East Coast, or dancing live (again in THE CITY) to THE ZAZU Pitts Memorial Orchestra/admiring those talented ladies with BIG HAIR (check it out on YouTube) belting out their best (“our”) sounds/attitude, SF, or the short tragic history of the stylish Mustang Sally, or seeing a live show of Chris Izaak’s in SF, before he was “known” (Sande did!), or discussing the merits in the Allen kitchen of expresso beans (effect on or bringing about migraines) during the heyday of Esprit, but NO, again MY fondest memory is one involving a three hour (+++) lunch “sail” to Angel Island, the miraculous trip back and a another special evening in SF. Be forewarned, put on a nautical hat/state of (dis) belief, here goes! It all started after this writer showed up in SF deliriously, “sun burnt and mentally toasted” from a one week sailing course in Annapolis, with the idea to try out his sophomoric “skills” sailing the “calm” waters of THE CITY (by the Bay 😊). With extremely limited “knowledge” of some nautical lingo, this writer totally snowed the “charter” (note the nautical term) agent of a 36-foot Pearson sailboat in Sausalito. “Really, my good Sir,” all we lack understandably, are tips on where to acquire provision (wine, cheese, fruits, and artisanal breads). THE subterfuge was not to ask questions, just get the boat! Thus, no revealing (ignorant) inquiries/follow-up questions on the finer points of how a motor works/turns on and off, cooling systems function nor on how roller furling’s equipment spins the leading front Genoa sail in and out, were posed. Just “knowingly” nodding at all the crucial (but little understood) instructions. Day charter secured, who could be more perfect/suited, to join a sparkling lunch cruise the next day to Angel Island, than my oldest (Brad, 5th grade and Sande, El Camino HS) and trusting friends ...???? Bonus they are talented food and wine connoisseurs!!! Next morning, after leaving the El Cerrito adventure center relatively early…fortified with special coffee we arrived in Sausalito… However, once in Sausalito we needed to take bit of time and now, as a team interpret what I thought the Charter Agent said about how does one starts the motor…? Miracle, it started, and somehow, also not hitting any other expensive boats on the way out of the innermost slip (set at ease by that big smile from Sande), with at least one other smile covering up, unease. Once out of the long channel and passing many fine seafood restaurants, we were out in brilliant sunshine with a strong “breeze” blowing in from under the Golden Gate 😊. Next, second major challenge. How to get some sail up/out…so as to “sail”?? Since it looked like there were two lines (now know to be “sheets”!) wrapped around the outside of the Genoa, instead of pulling both lose ends to unroll it, “we” again after some discussion (Sande being intelligent, remained silent, smiled and left it to the “boys”), who decided to manually laboriously unwrap the lines around the sail. Well, that “worked” so with one sail out, excited, moving and heeling enough, in the dependable SF winds, and so… why trouble ourselves with the Main... Also, since we were not too sure how the motor was turned on and off, we just left it on. Again, smiles all around and another cheerful, trusting, big smile, panache full “pose” from Sande up on the deck (not so much from Brad or I). With the favorable wind direction and with beautiful sunshine, in no time we made it to Angel Island. Time to eat lunch (open that bottle!!) and smile…Anchor out, but motor still running. Can you see Sande relaxing under the brim of fashionable hat...?? All very enjoyable, together on a boat in THE Bay, with excellent old friends, having a wonderful time, eating a picnic lunch, drinking wine, and chatting… Ok, getting past 2:30, time to head back…this time against/into the wind… Tacking (notice a real nautical term!) back and forth making some, but not much progress, as the famous fog clouds started to spill out over the Sausalito hills with darkness behind them.., Needed the motor to help make real progress against the wind BUT, “we” discovered, when heeling, the cold water (radiator for you land lubbers) intake was often out of the water, so the engine started to overheat badly, needle on the gauge deep in the “red zone”. Decision made, this time with more dour faces to turn it off (Brad knows about motors!) …. The deafening silence with no reassuring motor sound, BUT till a powerful wind in our sails, was a dramatic contrast. Now more like after 4 and the fog is rolling over “dem” hills and through the Gate, more rapidly. All not as cheery, especially Sande… BUT no panic visible, what a sailor! Must have been the outfit (looking for the photos), spoke outwardly of confidence in. being there with Brad, her steady mate, never lets her down! Needed something to get us in more quickly, as wind was pushing us further away from Sausalito, so decision made, at the risk of cracking the block of an overheated motor with cold water, to again start the motor. Lesson learned, motor started, success, and with the water intake actually in the water, the gauge fell rapidly! Wrapped up the Genoa with the “lines” and in started passing the Happy Hour partiers at the restaurants on the piers, Sande waved graciously, serenely, whilst hanging on to the mast. Next issue, getting real dark now, was staying in the deep-water channel and finding our home slip/dock. Sande was given instructions to do that and to guide us home from her spot holding the mast. Noting that the boat has a 5-foot keel sticking down into the water. Sande is confidently directing us in the “most direct way” BUT, unfortunately it is not within the deep-water channel! Suddenly, depth gauge reads 3 feet, we must be cutting the seagrass bottom!! Hard left rudder and pray we do not run aground…A miracle, no surprise when traveling with an Angel. At last found “our marina” and in driving down the “fairway” (open lane to the slips), in the failing light discover that somebody has parked a Big Boat at the bulkhead (land) right where we are headed and need to turn in. Again, silence, but this team, does not panic! Going slow and with a Guardian Angel bringing us in and beginner’s luck, we make it! Tied up, turned off the engine, get off with the empty bottles, drop the keys in the rental box and bolt for our evening’s destination. For that day and for many another day, tradition has us “unwind” and celebrate at => The BUENA VISTA in SF which overlooks a cable car turnstile, too. That day’s adventure called for more than one Irish Coffee (home of) that night and much laughter then (an in many visits there in years to come) to blessed by Sande’s smile, gleeful about how we actually “made it.” In this and of other such memories touched upon above that I have, Sande remains here in all of us. She, with her cheek-to-cheek smile, twinkling eyes, friendly voice, which, however might have sometimes expressed a questioning rising tone with perhaps some exasperation…: “but Braaad!” I hear and see her right next to me as I write, out front on our lawn tonight north of NYC. Manhattan, the place she always dreamt and talked about. In the years to come, think of her too as you see the clouds spill up, around and through the Golden Gate and over the Sausalito hills, our when you have that second Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista! I am so glad that in April, Sande and I caught up on the many years gap we had had!!! So, for now, I say Adios, with much, much love from your “old” friend “Hintz” (Michael), Maria, Analie, Julia and Alessandra.

We love you

For more years than Susan and I can count, Sande was the rock, the axis, the shining face of our chiropractic office. She was a skillful, caring, and intuitive people person who kept the office running smoothly, did her best to keep me on time, and brought a cheerful, positive energy to our office every single day. Sande believed deeply in our mission and purpose, and she embodied that belief in the way she cared for every patient — from the moment they walked through our door to the time they left. Everyone loved her. Her passing is a true loss. Sande made an impression on everyone she met, and I can’t think that there could be a person whose life wasn’t the better by knowing her. She will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to cross her path.

Sande was a very energetic, funny, loving, creative person. Always a smile on her face. She had a passion for gardening-growing the most beautiful flowers and produce in her garden beds. We hold special memories of our annual camping trips to Union Valley Reservoir and PiPi, our weekly dinners with the kids at Picante. The Rolling Stones concert at ATT park. Endless trips to the beach with the kids in the summer. Sande loved decorating with vibrant colors. She was the queen of grocery shopping, stopping at multiple stores to select only the best grocery items for her family. We have beautiful memories of Sande that we will continue to keep in our hearts. Rest in peace, Sande, you will be missed.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.