Sandra Gish

1950 - 2016

Sandra Gish October 29, 1950 - August 21, 2016 San Diego Sandra Gish, 65, creator of the the "Gish Model of Interpreting," passed away at home on August 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. She was born on October 29, 1950 in Oakpark, Illinois to Roger and Louise Gish.Sandra grew up in Champaign, Ilinois. She first learned of the deaf community while at Bottenfield grade school that provided classes for deaf children. By assisting in those classes, Sandra found her calling. She earned a bachelor's degree in Deaf Education from the University of Illinois, and a Master's degree from Western Maryland College in Interpreter Education in 1991.Gish, as she is known to all, had over 30 years of experience in teaching interpreting at college and university levels. An icon in the interpreting community, Gish was a champion of the underrepresented. She was a creative and unique woman, with an unshakeable sense of humor. "The Gish Model," which Sandra created in 1987, focuses on the intent, goals and themes of communication rather than the language. An incredible gift to interpreters, it is still being used today. Gish became an associate professor at Western Oregon University where she founded, coordinated, and taught a four-year degree program in ASL/English interpretation, from 1989 to 2003, and continued on as full-time faculty until 2005. In 1995, Gish was named teacher of the year by Western Oregon University. She received the very first RID Region 5 Educator award for, "shaping the profession of interpreting while touching the lives of hundreds and hundreds of students with her gentle support."Because of her love of theater, she co-founded the Minnesota Theater Institute of the Deaf. Yes, she was also an actor. She received Minnesota's Jr. National Association of the Deaf's award for "Woman of the Year," one of her greatest professional honors.Gish has been published numerous times on interpreting and communication. As a performing arts interpreter, Gish has interpreted for James Earl Jones, Katherine Hepburn, Ray Charles, Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, Aretha Franklin, Bob Newhart, Bonnie Raitt, Earth Wind and Fire, Jennifer Hudson and many more.Sandra is survived by her stepson Matt Koranda and his wife Tone, her grandchildren Sebastian and Anders, and her siblings Linda and Richard.Gish's mantra was "by my life," meaning: know me by what I do. And through her life's work she taught respect, equality, activism and empowerment. Her legacy is exponential.Gish is now up high rearranging cloud formations; she has found a better way to do it.