Obituary of Sandra MacNider O'Brien

Sandy, as family and friends always called her, was a third generation Northern California native. She was born in San Francisco and raised in San Andreas where her mother's family had lived since the 1880's. After graduating from Calaveras High School in 1957, Sandy went on to attend UC Berkeley and earned a B.A. in History in 1961. After college, she worked for Pan American Airlines in their tour department in San Francisco. In 1964 she married Michael O'Brien, her high school and college sweetheart, and they relocated to Santa Cruz County where he began his teaching career and she went to work for the business office of UC Santa Cruz. Sandy and Mike eventually settled in Aptos where they raised their two children and in 1972 Sandy went to work as a real estate broker for Aptos Associates. She loved her work in real estate because it brought together her skill in business and her gift of connecting with and helping people. Throughout her 35-year career as a real estate broker and property manager, she touched the lives of so many, forming life-long friendships. In 1979 Mike was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, but continued his teaching career until 1994. Throughout, the journey of her husband's illness, Sandy worked tirelessly as his devoted advocate and partner…researching the latest treatment options, forming a long running brain tumor patient support group, traveling throughout Europe with him, hiking in the Sierras and Yosemite, living each day to the fullest. Her tremendous strength, faith and optimism sustained her and her family as she cared for her husband and supported him throughout his difficult journey. True to her desire to always reach out and help others, Sandy devoted her focus to fundraising for the National Brain Tumor Foundation after Mike's passing. She said that this work provided closure and healing and allowed her to embrace the next phase of life. A talented gardener and photographer throughout her life, Sandy's artistic pursuits reached a new level as she traveled the world, always with her camera in hand, bringing back new inspiration for her gardens and her life. She not only had an artistic, but also a spiritual connection to nature and spent as much time as possible hiking in the high camps of Yosemite, trekking in New Zealand or walking her beloved dogs on the beaches and in the Redwood forests of Santa Cruz County which truly was the home of her heart. In 2010 Sandy was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease called Corticobasal Syndrome which she fought bravely for the next 6 years. This disease, an atypical Parkinsonian disorder, gradually claimed her motor skills and ability to talk, but it never touched her courage, sense of humor or love of each day of life. She was an inspiration and a teacher to all who encountered her in her final years. Aided by her family and a devoted group of caregivers, Sandy continued to participate in life and in the community she loved, all while living in her home and enjoying her garden of 45 years. On April 4, 2016, Sandy passed away peacefully at her home in Aptos with her children, caregivers and her beloved dogs by her side. She is survived by her son Matthew O'Brien of Soquel, her daughter Anne O'Brien and son-in-law Bill Howerton of Providence, RI and her sister Joan Hughes of San Francisco, CA. A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Sandy on July 15th at noon at the Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Rd (adjacent to Dominican Hospital), in Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to The Stanford University Brain Donation and Neurological Research Program in memory of Sandy. To make a gift by check: 1) Make checks payable to: Stanford University 2) Indicate in the memo line of check or in a letter: Gift for "Henderson Cognitive Aging and Dementia Research Fund", IMO: Sandra M. O'Brien 3) Mail to the following address: Stanford University Development Services P.O. Box 20466 Stanford, CA 94309-0466 To pay by credit card online: 1) Go to http://giving.stanford.edu/ 2) Choose make a gift by credit card to Stanford Medicine and "other" 3) provide instruction: Henderson Cognitive Aging and Dementia Research Fund 4) then select Option: "In Memory Of" and indicate Sandra M. O'Brien.