Sandra Leigh Benbrook

Sandra Leigh Benbrook was born in Los Angles, Calif., on October 29, 1947 to Samuel and Barbara Benbrook. Her father was a surgeon in the Navy and her mother was working toward her medical degree, and pursued a long career in psychiatry. Sandi loved deep sea fishing and camping with her family in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1965. Through high school, Sandi honed her ice staking skills, did some cheerleading, learned to speak French, and looked forward to family trips to the beach and mountains.

On one memorable backpacking trip in the Sierras with Barbara when Sandi was 12 and brother Chuck was 10, Sandi got an appendicitis. Barbara had to get Sandi, brother Chuck, and the mule down off the mountain fast, and accomplished the task flawlessly.

Sandi enrolled at Mills College in Oakland, Calif., in the fall of 1966. She took a break from undergraduate studies to experience the Height Ashbury at its peak, enjoying several mystical musical experiences along the way. She returned to college at USC in Los Angeles and earned an undergraduate degree in sociology. Sandi then joined the maiden class in a new, innovative PhD program in sociology at USC. Her PhD thesis focused on demographic and population dynamics, and related statistical methods. As her family and friends recognized at the time, Sandi finally was challenged in graduate school to fully draw upon her considerable cognitive abilities. Like her mother, Sandi did her share of blazing academic trails. Also, while at USC, deep and lifelong bonds were formed within a group of the 12 women that enrolled in the new demography program at USC.

Sandi took a job with the Washington State government in Olympia and initially worked on the state's energy infrastructure. In 1988 on a business trip, she flew from Seattle to Washington, D.C., with a stop in Chicago. On the leg to Chicago, she was seated in a row in the back of the plane in the smoking section. Another passenger, future husband Francois Rieder, was on his first leg of a flight to Paris to visit his family. Francois saw Sandi as he walked toward his seat, also in the smoking section, but saw an open seat next to Sandi. He decided to change his seat, a decision that changed two lives and merged two families.

When they parted in Chicago, Francois surprised Sandi with their first kiss. Upon their return to the Seattle area, Francois called Sandi, and she invited him to accompany her to a reception hosted by the Governor (their first date). Soon thereafter, they became inseparable. They were married in 1989 in a service in Portola Valley, Calif., at the home of Sandi's mother Barbara, and step-father Walter Arons, accompanied by dozens of Sandi's friends and family and Francois's children.

Sandi and Francois returned to Renton, Wash., a location that allowed Sandi to continue her work in Olympia for the State, and Francois to commute to Boeing Field where he worked on the electronics in AWAC planes. Sandi moved up the ranks in the Washington State government, and ended a long and distinguished career as Director of Emergency Management. She led the state's response in 2005 when freezing temperatures in Southwestern Washington shut down transport, utilities, and delivery of services in a multi-county area.

In recent years, Sandi worked as a volunteer for multiple organizations, and served as the president of the Cathlamet Chamber of Commerce. She developed loving relationships with Francois's family. On the morning of her passing, four generations came together to wish her smooth passage, tell stories, and experience another turn of the wheel of life. The gathering was lightened by the smile, and laughter, of Sandi's great grandchildren, Claire, Daniel, Teddy, Aliya, and Sarah.

Sandi is survived by Francois, her husband of 38 years, and Francois's children, Cecile and her husband Greg Bamer, Xavier Rieder, two granddaughters, and five great grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Charles Benbrook, Jeff Arons, and Rick Arons, and sisters Laurie and Beth Arons. Sandi grew up in a family of doctors. She and Francois are eternally grateful for the excellent health care she has received. Sandi found peace and solace upon joining the Catholic faith and her recent Baptism. Sandi devoted her life to serving people, her family, and building a better, healthier world. Her sparkle and smile, and sense of humor, will be missed by all who knew her. The Funeral Mass for Sani is Thursday March 26 at St Catherine's Catholic Church in Cathlamet. At 11 a.m. Following the Mass there will be a Celebration of Life at the River mile 38 Brewery. Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.