LifeQs

Sandra Waldman

Back to LifeQs

What are some favorite memories you have of Sandy?

Steven Waldman
She had just recovered from cancer surgery. She was waking up and groggy. Literally the first words she uttered were, "Did you eat?"

I also for some reason have this impressionistic memory from when I was a little boy. I had come home from school or summer camp. It was raining out, and I was wet. I walked into the house and saw her over by the fireplace, and walked over there. She just beamed at me for no particular reason and gave me a huge hug. It wasn't a big life milestone moment or a holiday. And I have no idea why my brain remembered that instance as opposed to thousands of others but it's vivid and makes me smile whenever I recall it.
Jeff Janus
I share very fond memories of Sandy's wonderful, personal Passover Haggadahs, which she would re-edit and revise each year, and incorporate accomplishments of her children and grandchildren, as well as major events in the world, all while staying true to the message and meaning of Passover -- freedom and liberation for all people, everywhere.
Joseph Waldman
Eating snails at Jubilee every time I come home to visit! Plus having great political discussions and hearing stories about Walter Cronkite.
Ben Waldman
About five or six years ago, we had our usual birthday/Thanksgiving celebration for Grandma Sandy's birthday. As a cabal of guests gathered in our dining room, my sister, Susannah, retreated to the kitchen to retrieve Sandy's cake. We dimmed the lights and Susannah brought in the cake, candles burning. Just at the peak of "Happy Birthday," Susannah leaned over to place the cake in front of Sandy. Almost in slow motion, the cake slipped off of its tray, landing upside-down in front of Sandy's feet on the floor. Fortunately, this whole incident was caught on video. My favorite part is a freeze-frame just towards the end. Just after everyone processed what had happened, most of the room began to laugh--at the events, but also at Susannah. But not Sandy. In the video, she looks directly at her granddaughter and gives her a beaming, warm, reassuring smile. It's a smile I know well--it emerges whenever I visit New York. I'm looking forward to seeing it in December, because it always makes my day.
Elizabeth Fine
One of my favorite memories of Sandy is from a birthday celebration, which often coincides with Thanksgiving. We "surprised" Sandy with a birthday cake -- and the surprise was on all of us when the cake, alight with many candles, flipped over and landed frosting first on Sandy's feet. In her typical good humor, Sandy took the cake at her feet in stride. We have the whole scene on video -- including Sandy's smiling face throughout.
Michael Waldman
Singing to me as a child with a song about the "five little helpers" -- "who and what and when and where and why and how."

When I was almost five, we moved into our new suburban house on a still unfinished suburban cut de sac. About three days later, all the neighborhood kids came and sat on our front stoop to watch the construction. I was mortified and insisted on staying inside. Mom gently but firmly ushered me out the door to sit with them.

I remember as she sat patiently with me for hours as I made school projects out of tin cans and pipe cleaners.

I remember her bursting into tears when I told her, uncomprehendingly, that Martin Luther King, Jr. had been killed. (They had interrupted the cartoons for the bulletin.)

All life lessons!

Several decades later, Dizzy would go into a delighted frenzy whenever she saw Sandy. She would jump up, get entangled wither necklace, lick her, give her a hug. When she arrived in Great Barrington, she would rush into the house looking for her.
Kathryn Janus
It's a very important memory for me and that is Sandy's wonderful writing for the yearly Haggadah. Always literate, always topical, interesting to read out loud. I appreciate all the time and energy that Sandy put in to making our Passover celebrations so meaningful. Thank you, Sandy! It was so fun to watch each year as the "littles" got better and better at reading. True milestones.

Another great memory is the time when Steve and I were transferring the Thanksgiving turkey from the pan to the fancy platter, and it slipped from our hands and fell to the floor and kind of exploded! We quickly picked up the pieces and put them on the platter and presented this mess to Marty. He, having missed all the drama, said, "What the heck happened here?" Sandy said, "Just carve, Marty." Sandy has always been calm in the face of anxiety. By the way, the turkey was delicious. Liz said that in France, they always throw turkeys on the floor before eating them.

Sandy, you have been a terrific mother figure in my life. You always welcomed Jeff and me into your homes and into family occasions. We love you!
Steven Waldman
How hard she laughs when Chester licks her face.
Amy Cunningham
Those picnics at the lake in New Marlborough, Tanglewood Concerts, knowing that when we left with kids with her they'd be wonderfully happy and fine, apple picking, talking politics, seeing her present her work before an audience on the history of how women's magazines presented the wise matter of birth control. Sandy, you are brilliant and fascinating!