Jane Sandsmark - 1962-2007
Jane Sandsmark died quietly at home on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at the age of 45. She had lived with an oligodendroglioma/astrocytoma brain tumor, multiple recurrences, and many complicated treatments for over nine years.
Jane did not let her illness or its treatment -- or anything else, for that matter -- keep her from doing what she wanted to do. Since her diagnosis, she traveled extensively in the U.S., Europe (especially France), and the Americas, and explored her creativity through sculpture, drawing, digital art, fiber art, countless crafts, cooking, and dance. She also enjoyed sailing and took every opportunity to get on the water.
Jane could converse knowledgeably on subjects ranging from France to flower arranging, food to physics. In the early 1980s she volunteered as an Explainer at San Francisco's Exploratorium, and remained an enthusiastic, voluble explainer of many subjects for the rest of her life. She was a firm believer in the importance of science and math education for women. She also was a fierce environmentalist, having worked or volunteered with Exploring New Horizons, Hidden Villa, East Bay Regional Parks, and the National Park Service.
She earned degrees in computer science from Cal State Hayward and electrical engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Working for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, she installed the first email system in a national park in the late 1980s. She was the first computer specialist in the Presidio of San Francisco under the National Park Service, and finished her professional career in 2001 with Hewlett Packard.
Jane is survived by her husband Fred Sandsmark; mother Ann Koppel; father Tom Koppel; sisters Cheryl Brazell (niece Sarah) and Diane Vroenen (brother-in-law Gary); many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews; and scores of admiring and supportive friends and colleagues.
The family thanks Dr. Michael Prados and the many kind people at the UCSF brain tumor center for their tireless, creative care over the course of her illness. We also gratefully acknowledge Sharon Lamb, Mary Lovely, and the San Francisco Brain Tumor Support Group.
Jane asked that gifts in her memory be made to the National Brain Tumor Foundation (www.braintumor.org) or the Exploratorium (www.exploratorium.edu). Links are at right. A memorial service will be held at Fort Mason in San Francisco on Sunday, September 9, 2007. Details are below.
Please click the "Comments" link below if you would like to share a memory of Jane.
19 Comments:
I didn't know Jane as well as many, but she really touched me when we were travelling in France with the SFBACC. I am sure that she touched many others as well and will be dearly missed by those who knew her, if even for a short time.
Jane had many achievements in her life, and she was also a very compasionate and caring individual. I don't believe she ever met a stranger. She was friendly and genuinely cared about the people around her. She was also a lot of fun to be around, I remember dancing with her at friends' weddings, enjoying the sounds of the waves in San Luis Obispo during a study break and having fun at Lake of the Pines during Dave Campbell's team parties.
Jane and Fred were excellent hosts and cooks! I always enjoyed the dinner parties at their house. The very first Oscar party I attended was at their house in Roseville, where the guests also qualified for Oscars themselves.
She was quite the renaissance woman from yarn weaving, to sculpting, to Engineering and Computer Scince (to name a very few). Our world and the people she touched are better for having met her.
I have really enjoyed looking at all of the photos on Jane's site today. They bring back many nice memories. Kay took a great picture of Jane at a cafe in Vicenza when we were on tour with SFBACC along with Fred in 2003. I don't think there's a way I can post it here, but you can see it at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_log/1283133816/.
Jane was probably the smartest person I ever met... and also one of the sweetest. Kay & I will miss her very much.
I feel very blessed to have known and danced with Jane for over a year. She was a pioneer participant in my Mixed Ability Dance Program at CSU East Bay, and she courageously and gracefully experimented with how dance can be accessible to people of all abilities.
She has been an inspiration to me and to many of my students. She introduced us to the use of a "cane chair" and since Fred has given us the cane chair to use for our classes and performances, we have been including Jane's spirit in our shows by placing the cane chair like an altar onstage.
Jane taught be a lot and I am very happy that I got to spend the time I did with her. We at the CSU East Bay Mixed Ability Dance Program will hold her lovingly in our hearts as we go forward into new territories. Jane's creative spirit has been a beautiful gift.
Dear Fred and Family,
We are so sorry to hear about Jane's passing. Our visit with both of you in March was really nice. We are left with great memories from HP, our wedding and other events over the past 12 years. Jane was talented in so many areas, had a great sense of humor and is an inspiration to all of us. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Love,
Sheri, Neil, Alexa, Cindy, Sean, Ashley and baby Laborete (Sah)
slaborete@yahoo.com
Jane was my physics student, teaching assistant, and friend at Chabot College years ago as she made the transition from the Park Service towards Cal Poly, Engineering, and HP. I count knowing her as one of the best things in my life, and I carry her spirit with me in every class, and share it with every student.
Rebecca Elson was an astronomer and one of my favorite poets, and was also taken far too early in her life. Her words, from “A Responsibility to Awe,” echo for me of Jane:
Who will I have been
When I’m gone?
Jane was an extraordinary soul, who leaves all of us so much better because of her presence on our planet. Look up, now and again, for shooting stars and think of her. And don’t forget the steady, shining star nearby, too, that is Fred.
Scott Hildreth
Besides her native brilliance and amazing character, I remember with such honor her courageous commmitment to living after the diagnosis of cancer was given. She lived as we should all live each day - fully and with wonder.
When Jane came to study tapestry with me, her illness and multiple surgeries had left marks on her. Her amazing intelligence was intact but her ability to follow a linear path was affected. She knew this and never let it get in the way of efforts to achieve her goal. She talked openly about her limits and fearlessly told me how I could help her learn in spite of it all. She gave me courage to talk openly about what I should do if she had a seizure. Just recently, I removed the note from my refigerator that listed phone numbers, doctors' names, etc. I dearly loved this part of Jane, her plain thinking about life and death and the life was to be lived while we had it, no matter what.
Fred, Mom and Dad - all of you are wonderful! You tenderly and patiently cared for Jane in just the way she wanted, treating her with great respect right to the end. You too are amazing witnesses to all of us about how to live live well.
I knew Jane only recently from the French classes we took together in Castro Valley. I will always be impressed with the way she lived her life to the fullest. She was always very matter of fact with me in talking about her illness and her constant battles. I learned a lot from her in the short time I knew her. I feel very grateful for the memories she gave me. Goodbye, Jane.
In whatever dimension Jane's spirit now resides, I am sure she is inspiring other spirits!
My heart is with Fred and the rest of Jane's family as they begin their own recovery from Jane's illness. May your transitions to the next stages of your lives be smooth and simple, and be met with the courage and sense of adventure Jane taught us all.
Jane's love of knowledge (both gaining and sharing) is how I will remember her most. She would bring a book with her everywhere and she always had interesting stories and information to share. A vivid picture I have of Jane is of her spinning yarn at one of the Lake of the Pine work parties. When the rest of us were bringing water toys and towels to a beach party, Jane was brining her spinning wheel. I love that. She is very missed, but how she lived her life continues to inspire me.
I first met Jane in Scott Hildreth's office at Chabot College. Jane and Scott were having a spirited discussion about astronomy and during the few minutes while I waited for them to finish it became obvious that Jane was one of the brightest and most dynamic persons I had ever encountered. Before she left, Scott introduced her and that's when I learned she and I had a connection through her husband Fred who participated in one or two of the musical groups I was in. Since then, every time I've met Jane at a musical event or at a gathering of mutual friends I've come away uplifted by Jane's spirit and enthusiasm. All who knew Jane miss her dearly but we can be comforted by the many fond memories of Jane that will live with us forever.
Dave Perry
I feel honored to have known Jane - although all too briefly. A breakfast together at the Albi hotel one morning comes immediately to mind. Jane insisted on speaking only French during the meal: always challenging herself in intellectual pursuits - even during an early morning breakfast!
Thank you for having given me the opportunity to meet Jane.
"Je suis nulle" in these situations, the proper words and phrases don't materialize at the proper moment. But, please know, my thoughts will be with Fred and all of you during these next very difficult days and weeks.
Love,
Nancy
Nancy Mettlen DeVries
International Tour Consultant
Ambassador Tours
an MTS Travel company
Fred,
Thank you for showing us the meaning of a committed relationship. I did not know Jane personally, but I could feel her goodness and gratitude for life coming through you.
I agree with Trisha in that whatever dimension Jane's spirit now resides, I am sure she is inspiring other spirits.
How wonderful for us that Jane was able to share so many of her talents and passions with those around her... even for people she has never met.
What a gift she has given us all. Thank you Fred for sharing your heart.
I met Jane when she joined my yoga classes at Cal Poly while she was a student there. I eventually also met Fred and was struck by how they were such a unique duo. Now Fred must move forward as a solo...but with Jane's spirit, left with us all. She will be missed...Fondly, Shoosh
Oh Jane, my dear friend, you have been my inspiration and I will miss you so!
I met Jane at CSUH and we became dear friends~
sisters~family.
I remember making posters at the student union, listening to the B-52s, being "little sisters" to the Delta Sigs, hiking in the canyon behind the school to feed sardines to a seal being trained there, visiting the lighthouses on the coast, getting facials, learning how to make a cream sauce for french beans...
She was always positive and thoughtful.
She took action and lived fully, learning and sharing every step of the way.
I cannot fathom the reason for losing such a beautiful spirit so early in life~
I can only hope that when I look into the sky I will see Jane's beautiful dimpled smile amongst the stars as I hold her tightly in my heart.
I remember introducing Jane and Fred at the Student Union.
Your union and companionship with Jane, Fred, is also an inspiration to me~such love!
What a blessing to the universe that your love resonates forever.
My love and compassion and support are here for you, Fred.
Jeg elsker deg.
Jeg elsker Jane.
Peace~Berit
I am saddened to read of Jane's death. I knew her from her days with East Bay Regional Parks and in recent years looked forward to seeing her each year at the BAEER Fair to catch up on her new art projects and how she was doing. She was one of the bravest, most intelligent persons I've known.
We didn't get to see Jane and Fred here in the Dakota's very often. I was always very interesting when we did. I was very sorry to hear about her death. I will always remember the time they were here at my farm and saw a little white table in my shed and hauled it all the way back to Califonia. The last I heard it is still at their home. May God Bless all who read this in rememberance of Jane.
It took me awhile to leave a comment on your site, Jane, because that would make me accept the fact that you are gone; and I didn't want to do that. I thought I saw you the other day at the store. The person looked like you before you got sick. I immediately felt happy to see you, then immediately sad because I knew it couldn't be you.
I only knew you for a couple of years, and I wish we had a chance for more. We had a connection, especially when we were dancing. We could communicate without words.
I will miss you
Sue
Jane's death brings with it a great loss to this planet. She will surely always be missed. I didn't know Jane well in the sense of spending a lot of time with her. My experiences with her were primarily chatting following a Castro Valley Community Band Concert or a few occasions where we were together at some social gathering - the first time at hers and Fred's home for a Christmas open house early in their marriage at which they had set up number of stations for guests to participate in making things realted to the holidays. This was my first introduction to her creativity, her exhuberance, her joy in being with people. Another occasion was to celebrate her fortieth birthday, where testimonies to what Jane meant to the various guests were shared, and the latest social accasion at our home for my husband's sixtieth birthday a year ago in May. On another level, I did know her. She was so generous in sharing herself - fully offering who and what she was. You couldn't miss her. For that and many things I loved her, loved being around her was drawn to her, always, always, happy to see her. She possesed glorious, vibrant, enthusiastic, fun loving energy that radiated from her and infused those with whom she came into contact so that they came away exhilarated and inspired - a living star. She always seemed to me to be fully present, to be interested in being and intereacting with whoever was there and with whatever was happening, to be palpably joyful for being alive. She was curious and loved conversing with people about an infinite number of things. Whatever was said, she had a perceptive, thoughtful, often amused response. Not long ago we had a stimulating conversation about her art projects, welding in particular. Shortly before that she talked about making floating islands flavored with rose petals- such an exotic, unique interpretations of this classic elegant desert, an experiment on her part I believe. From one perspective, she lived a short life, too short I say. Still she lived a very rich and very full life, using every moment, a walking textbook of how to make the most of living, how to be in the world, how to be with people. I have a list of people I think should live forever as embodied beings on this Earth for what they bring to life and what they give. One of these people is my flute teacher, Frances Blaisdell, who is presently ninety-five and shares Jane's qualities of an infectious zest for living, caring for and interest in others, an aware presence, a grounded intelligence, and an unflappable rerpsonsiveness. Jane is on that list as well, not only for what she took form life and living, but for what she brought too it and gave along with her ablility to inspire and enliven others. There is a Latin phrase, causa sui, meaning one creates oneself. Jane created a magnificent, lovely, luscious, creative, brillliant, vibrant, shining being. Who could ask for more? I am very sorry she left this planet so soon. I am very sorry for that first brain cell that revolted, mutated and turned against her, sorry that she ( and Fred and her family) had to suffer through the process that took her life although even in that she was resilient, creative, courageous, fully participating. I am very grateful to have known her. She enhanced my own life. The gift of her being is a treasure to me.
My heart also goes out to Fred and Jane's family as they have navigated this territory in the past few years with infinite love, grace, courage, and acceptance. They too are a model for the rest of us.
Maarri Donaldson
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