Sanford Sandy M Reece, Sr.

He graduated in 1933 from high school in Lenoir, North Carolina, upon graduation he received a music scholarship from Culver Military Academy and graduated in 1936. He then went on to receive his B.A. and M.A. in English and Theatre Arts from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, graduating with the class of 1941.

In 1937 he married Virginia Lee Wilson in Lenoir, NC.

After his graduation from University of North Carolina, he became the director of Theatre in Savannah, Georgia, and in 1943 he became a radio announcer with WSAV in Savanna and WSBT in South Bend, Indiana. From 1950-1972 he became the general director for the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Portland and also was the director of research and planning, on the YMCA National Board in New York. From 1973 to 1996 he and his wife Virginia owned, operated and worked their winery, Wind Hills Vineyards in Banks, Oregon. Sandy also helped develop the Oregon Winegrowers Association and served as the first president of the O.W.A.

In 1993 Virginia passed away and in 1995 Sandy remarried Eugenia (DeDe) Barnhardt Young. She preceded him in death in 2005.

Sandy had a broad spectrum of talents, skills, and interests. Besides being an accomplished leader in the local and national YMCA, he was an avid gardener, farmer, stage actor and director, and a published playwright. In his last 17 years he was very active in Theatre in the Grove, Forest Grove, Oregon and HART Theatre in Hillsboro. His play, The Feather of the Eagle was first produced at Theatre in the Grove. He was a charter member of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County Oregon.

Sandy is survived by his children, Sandra L Sitzman, Banks, OR; Sanford M. “Bud” Reece, Jr., Hillsboro, OR; Robin Michaels, Knoxville, TN; Dinah Hartley, Seattle, WA. His step children, Rush Young, Jr., Pittsburgh, PA; Nancy Hanson, Pittsburgh, PA; James Young, Richmond, VA. Seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

.

Arrangements under the direction of Ross Hollywood Chapel & Killingsworth St. John's Lombard Little Chapel of the Chimes, Portland, OR.