Sandra Kahn died quietly in hospice care from complications related to Lewy Body dementia. While the last few years of her life were difficult, she did have many moments of laughter and intimacy with her family and new friends she made at the homes she stayed in. Her final days were peaceful, attended to by her daughters and caregivers. Sandra was strong, forthright, and amazingly compassionate to the end. These virtues never left her even as the disease took her down. Those who knew her, knew well her fiery spirit, her commitment to social justice, her deep love of art, books, children and her garden. She had lived for 28 years on 29th and Castro where her neighbors were also her dear friends. Sandra loved to talk with people, always engaging in conversation, always concerned about the state of the world and how we're going to change it. She shopped at Rainbow Grocery for decades and always spoke with workers there about the structure of collectives, about bargaining and workers' rights, pesticides and organic food. She practiced Tai Chi for nearly twenty years, continuing daily until she couldn't.
While she held a Bachelors degree in Philosophy from Boston College and almost finished her MA in Art History at Columbia (which she decided to put on hold to raise her family), Sandra spent 18 years working as an electrician in the Bay Area's shipyards. She had many friendships throughout her career there and walked many picket lines as a conscientious pro-labor worker. She eventually returned to school and earned a certificate to teach ESL. She taught immigrant adults at the JCC in San Francisco until she couldn't work anymore. Sandra adored her students and always spoke about them with great enthusiasm and tenderness. Sandra's work always stemmed from her political concerns. Her radical activism in the 1970's was solidly rooted in anti-war, anti-racism, anti-capitalism and anti-colonialist struggles. She also participated in the prison movement, was a member of the Peoples' Press collective and a vocal feminist to the end. Her favorite novelist was Toni Morrison, her favorite poet June Jordan, her favorite painter Vincent Van Gogh. She admired Studs Terkel, Paolo Friere, Fidel Castro and was intensely inspired by the Black Panthers and the black power movement of the 60's and 70's.
Sandra married Hal Kahn in 1961 and they had two children, Annika and Stanya Kahn. Although divorced in the late 70's, Sandra never remarried. She was longtime partners with Frank "Buffalo" David Santiago, who passed away in 1986.
Sandra was a caring and generous grandmother to her grandsons Kourosh Kahn-Adle and Lenny Dodge-Kahn and a loving friend to her neighbors' children as well, especially Rosalie and Sophia and Elsa and Esmé.
Sandra is buried at Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley, with the trees and the deer and quiet of the hills. She is missed and loved forever by her family and friends.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Sandra Kahn

10 Entries

Jane Snyder Garbacz

May 19, 2023

Dear Sandy, my fun loving friend and deep thinker! Met at cedar Crest College in PA as suitemates and became best friends in those early young adult years. Regret that we lost touch with each other but glad you lived a committed active and fun life.

As a young girl

November 25, 2015

Funny Sandra 1990

November 25, 2015

Julie Traun

November 23, 2015

I want to thank you so much for providing such a fabulous picture and loving memory of Sandra. I live in Noe Valley and saw her often, but my BIG memories are from the late 70s, 80s and Buffalo.
I met Sandra when I was in law school and she was just such a funny, smart, interesting person, mentor. She taught me so much; just by sharing her nature, everyone around her learned and grew. She was so very special. And god, what a great laugh!
Oh, I am so sorry for your loss, but I know you have great memories. And surely she would have just hated to be miserable as was likely true of late. You captured her so well with your words and in this great photo...we are all better for having known her. Thank you. Much love to you all.
Julie Traun

Jim Newcomer

November 23, 2015

Sandra - the bright light of the anti-war demonstrations and sit-ins, and the sharpest wit in the meetings leading up to the Cambodia Strike at Stanford in 1970. Her dedication to the purpose never stood in the way of being gracious, funny, and original, traits that some of the more doctrinaire leaders sometimes thought were frivolous. Frivolous she was not. But she brought grace and life to the movement, and I'll always rejoice in her memory.

Jeanne Friedman

November 23, 2015

The memory of her quick laugh and feisty determination will stay with me. She could spot pomposity a mile away, and there was no end to her enthusiasm for doing the right thing. RIP Sandra. With loving memories -- Jeanne Friedman

Didi Flores

November 23, 2015

lot's of love to Annika and Stanya

when I remember Sandra warmth and smiles are what I remember

V. Congleton

November 23, 2015

Although it's been 45 years, I remember very keenly Sandra's sparkle, intensity and charm. Sorry to lose her, and sorry she had such difficulties during the last years. Condolences to her family and friends.

November 23, 2015

I love you Mom!!!!!!!

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