Hammer, Sandra Swanson
Of White Bear Lake formerly of
New Smyrna Beach and Dorset Vermont
…died peacefully in her home on White Bear Lake with her family. She was born in 1938 and grew up in St. Paul where she graduated from Summit School. Sandy attended Pembroke University and The U of M where she received her BA and MFA.
She married Horace Irvine II of White Bear Lake in 1958. They lived in Boston and White Bear and raised three children. She later married Richard Hammer PhD in 1973 and they lived in Boston, MA and Dorset, VT. She then had a successfulcareer in computer systems sales with Control Data and Prime Computer and obtained an MBA from Babson College.
When Sandy and Dick retired, they split their time between Dorset, VT and New Smyrna Beach, FL. Sandy became a voracious world traveller and an avid bridge player becoming a Gold Life Master. She earned over three thousand master points and was a popular partner.
Sandy was fiercely independent, private and very loyal to her friends. She had many lifelong loving relationships. One of her greatest passions was NY Theater and Broadway. She enjoyed her dogs immensely and later in life, took to bird watching. She was so proud of her grandchildren and even helped bring her daughter’s baby home from China.
Sandy is survived by her husband Richard and 3 children: Horace (Cynthia) Irvine III of Stillwater, MN; Julia Irvine Madore of Berkeley, CA & Kathryn Playa of Los Angeles, CA. There are 4 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren & 1 great grandchild. She is also survived by her stepbrother Wyck (Shell) Knox of Augusta, GA and a half-sister Tricia Robere of Pasadena, CA. There will be a private memorial service. Memorials are preferred to the House Of Hope Garth Fund, 797 Summit Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55105.
Mom, we love you and are comforted by the fact that you are with your parents, Denver and Letty Swanson. We can hear the cards being shuffled!