Sandi Garron, 57, of Northridge, Calif., passed away Monday, Dec. 27, at her home.
Memorial services were to be held today, Jan. 7, at Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge. The family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).
Sandi was born March 17, 1953, in Brookline, Mass., and grew up in Mattapan and Wollaston, Mass. The daughter of Kenneth and Lillian Blacker, she graduated in 1970 from North Quincy High School. and attended Boston State College. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
On Nov. 12, 1972, Sandi married Barry Garron, former TV critic for The Kansas City Star. They moved to Kansas City the following August.
Multitalented and creative, she pursued several interests and worked at several occupations. At various times, she operated her own advertising and public relations agency, served as director of public relations and was an adjunct faculty member at Avila College and founded a service organization that provided recreation and companionship to senior adults.
Sandi ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for state senator from the 11th district of Kansas in 1996. She served on Overland Park’s Community Development Block Grant Citizens’ Advisory Committee from 1997 to 1998.
She and her husband were founding members of Temple Shir Chadash and Temple Beth Torah. She also served as president of Temple Beth El (1987-1988) and was a member of the Jewish Community Center.
Sandi loved to travel, particularly on cruises, and was a voracious reader. She had an enormous amount of empathy for anyone suffering or in need, human or animal. Intuitive and free-spirited, she always tried to live each day to her fullest potential. She adored the beauty of nature, the genius of art and the spark of humanity she inevitably found in all people.
She was especially devoted to her husband and her daughter, Rachel, and relished her role as a mother.
The Garrons moved to California in December 1998. Sandi was certified by the state to serve as a nursing home administrator in 2003 and taught continuing education classes in that field. The following year, when Rachel became engaged to David Dain, Sandi felt as if she had been blessed with a son. Her greatest joy of all, though, was being grandmother and “buddy” to her two granddaughters: Sierra, 4, and Alisa, 3 months.
She was preceded in death by her mother. She is survived by her father, her husband, her daughter and son-in-law. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Mitch Blacker, of Kansas City, and her sister, Sharyn Papa, of Hull, Mass.
Online guestbook available at http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/latimes/guestbook.aspx?n=sandi-garron&pid=147487000&cid=full