Celebrating Sandy Alexander

back in November, Sandy sent us an email and a donation – one of many. He was a supporter from the get-go around here. Taper, archivist, and lover of life. We’ll miss you Sandman. Our Hero.

back in November, Sandy sent us an email and a donation – one of many. He was a supporter from the get-go around here. Taper, archivist, and lover of life. We’ll miss you Sandman. Our Hero.
Sandy. sigh what a bright loving spirit lost to us. Lost to our dear Stella. Your generosity and human kindness is incomparable. The living example you both provided for us all will never be forgotten and we are grateful for having known you. Fare thee well. . .
Yup, Sandy was one of the great ones, we shall sorely miss you.
Our friendship started with our shared passion for taping shows. I helped Sandy get his first computer and showed him how to do a clean, all digital transfer and master to cdr, and over the years he shared many of his recordings with me. We know Sandy is setting up a great taping rig in heaven to record the jams of the great musicians up there (unfortunately God’s girlfriend is one of the singers) but I wish he was still here with all of us.
Our friendship grew beyond just sharing music and taping. Sandy was a Buddha-like, god-like figure in my mind. He was one of the best people I have ever known, always so kind and generous to others. He was a shining example of how not to take on other people’s shit and how to not be judgemental. I am questioning whether Karma does exist, because Sandy was as good a person as I can imagine and deserved many years of joy with his loving wife and his many friends and the many bands he grooved to and became friends with.
Many other people had many different (non-taping) connections with Sandy. He loved music and saw tons of shows, not only his old standbys like Neil Young, Jackson Browne and SCI, but new up and coming bands (many of whom he helped attain national recognition) like Yonder Mountain String Band, Hot Buttered Rum String Band and others. He loved his wife, who very much loved him too, and for whom I wish I could absorb some of the pain she must be feeling. He loved fishing. He loved gardening.
But Sandy, despite his many interests, was about his connections with people. If you would have taken away taping, he would have missed it but been ok. If you took away music, he would have missed it but been ok. But I know that he would not have been ok if he didn’t have his friends.
Tearfully yours,
Easy Ed
I posted this on another email list. I think it’s worth reprinting here.
–
Sandy was also a friend of mine. I distinctly remember early on in the
progression of the disease, when he was waiting for the transplant and
didn’t know if he was going to make it another year, he was sitting in
the seat directly in front of me at the BCT when SCI played there. They
switched the venue from the Greek (I think due to lack of ticket
sales). We talked a little before the show and he was dealing with not
knowing if he would get a liver or not. He was on the list and had a
pager. It was amazing to see how he faced it. He didn’t seem to really
feel sorry for himself or seemed scared, depressed or angry. He was
facing it with more grace then I could ever imagine having.
I remember this because throughout the night he did not stop dancing.
The seats could hardly contain him. His arms were flailing he was
jumping up and down. He was definitely alive. I will never forget that.
Marty
Just thinking of you today Sandy. Thought I’d leave a little note here in cyberspace to say–you are missed my friend. Listening to your wedding music right now in my office. Thanks for recording it!!