Sandra Soto HATFIELD

1935 - 2017

HATFIELD, Sandra Soto formerly of Tucson, died peacefully at her home in Huntington, WV on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, following an extended illness. She was the wife of C. Donald Hatfield, former publisher and editor of the Tucson Citizen, who survives her. She was the mother of three children, Lisa, Chris and Joel, all of whom predeceased her. She was an extraordinary woman by any measure-wife, mother, friend and supporter to countless persons who needed a helping hand. She was a published poet, an honored community leader and volunteer in two vastly different cities, was appointed to significant commissions by the governors of two states, and was actively involved with two universities. She was born in Raleigh County WV in December 1935 to Sandy Soto Jr. and Sue Chingle Soto. Both her parents came from immigrant families, her father's from Spain, her mother's from Polish Austria. She graduated cum laud from Marshall University and pursued graduate studies there. She also took advanced classes at the University of Arizona. During her 22 years in Tucson she served on many boards and commissions. She was appointed by Gov. Fife Symington to the Arizona-Mexico Commission. She served on the Tucson Airport Authority, the University of Arizona's Children's Research Center, its Department of Late Medieval Studies, University Libraries, Office of Cultural Affairs, Women's Studies and the UA President's Council in Minorities, and on the Tucson Symphony, Arizona Theatre Company, Tucson Museum of Art, Community Food Bank, Hispanic Professional Action Committee, Silver and Turquoise Society, and was a member of the Tucson Literary Club. In Huntington she was appointed by Gov. Jay Rockefeller to the Governor's Commission on the Disabled and the West Virginia Disabilities Council. She also served on the Stairstep in Residence program supporting West Virginia public schools, on the board of the Huntington Chamber Orchestra, and as president of the Huntington chapter of the Alliance Francaise, as chair of a committee to establish a graduate exchange program with a University in France, and most recently as chair of the Dean's Council of Marshall University's College of Fine Arts and on the fund-raising committee of Marshall's new downtown Visual Arts Center. Her poems have been published in book collections ("Yearbook of Modern Poetry" and "Baseball Diamonds") and one, a tribute to Emily Dickinson, was read at an event honoring Dickinson in Amherst MA. A collection of her poetry, "Songs From the Night Blooming garden," was published in November 2016. She was widely traveled, a student of the arts, playing classical piano, and a voracious reader. She is survived by her husband, Don; her sisters, Shirley (Mrs. Frank) Lusk and Tomasina (Mrs. James) Michel; a niece, Lesley Byrne, and a special "unofficial family member," Tammy Stewart. Visitation is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sunday, September 17, 2017, at KLINGEL CARPENTER MORTUARY, 328 6th Ave., Huntington, and Funeral Services at 1:00 p.m., Monday, September 18, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church, 1015 5th Ave., Huntington. Contributions in her name may be made to the Sandra Soto Hatfield Scholarship Endowment at Marshall University, the Children's Research Center at the University of Arizona, or a charity of one's choice. She will be missed, not only by her family, especially her husband of 62 years, but also by the countless people touched by her kindness and generosity, from friends to the many young students who benefitted from her scholarship endowments.