John Wright Sand

John Wright Sand
June 10, 1923 ~ May 23, 2010

Carmel - John W. Sand passed away peacefully at home in Del Mesa Carmel on May 23, 2010. Born at the Old Adobe Hospital in Monterey, John's parents, Harold Oliver Sand and Margaret Wright Sand, were long time residents of Monterey and Carmel Valley. Harold established H.O. Sand Realty in Carmel Valley Village in 1946 and his grandson, Eric currently operates Eric H. Sand Real Estate in the same building which Harold built. His grandfather, Ben Wright, was associated with the Palace Drug Store and was one time mayor of Monterey. John's mother was a descendant of Joel Walker, signer and founder of the California State Constitution and his father was a West Point graduate.
John attended San Carlos Elementary and Monterey High School, graduating in 1941. He also attended Santa Clara University before leaving to serve in the Air Force during World War II. On his return, he went to UC Berkeley, graduating with a Master's Degree in Political Science in 1950.
John married Nancy Hale of Carmel in l947 in the Chapel at Carmel Mission. He and his family lived in Carmel for a couple of years before he joined the CIA and moved to the Washington, D.C. area. In 1955, he was stationed in Taipei, Taiwan and then moved to Bethesda, Maryland in l958, where he and his family had a home for 50 years. John, Nancy and their children lived in Athens, Greece from 1963 to l968.
John retired in 1972 and pursued his love of Greek and Egyptian archaeology. In 2006, he and Nancy returned to their beloved Monterey Peninsula to live at Del Mesa Carmel. John renewed many childhood friendships and enjoyed visiting with them as much as possible. John enjoyed keeping up with world affairs, having spent much time in foreign capitals while working for the CIA. He spent many hours doing archaeological research on his computer in his home office. Eating out was a favorite pastime.
John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy; three sons, Eric Sand of Carmel Valley, Toland Sand of Sanbornton, New Hampshire and Chris Sand of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Another son, Lee Sand, preceded John in death in 2003. He is also survived by eight grandsons: Kevin Sand of Monterey, Ryan Sand of Los Gatos, Luke and Austin Sand of Melrose, Massachusetts, Jameson Sand of Hollywood and Chris, Taylor, and David Sand of Carmel Valley; and four great- grandsons and one great grand-daughter.
The Sand family is especially grateful to Lela Hartman for her devoted care of John in his last year and a half of life. A private Memorial Mass will be held at Carmel Mission Chapel. To sign John's guest book and leave messages for his family, please visit www.thepaulmortuary.com.