Sandra Robin Koehler

Sandra Robin Koehler (Butchko) Age 62, passed away on March 20, 2013 at her home in Novato, CA after a seven-year battle with cancer. Born in 1950 to Jennie and Thomas Butchko, Sandra grew up in Rialto, CA. During this time, she focused on her academics and developed a keen interest in German language and literature. While Sandra did not realize it, these interests were the stepping stones for her future. In 1972, she earned a BA in German from UC Berkeley, where she met her future husband whom she followed to Germany. They married in 1973 and moved back to California in 1980 with their two older sons. Sandra was a dedicated parent. She did not miss a concert of her sons with the Sinaloa, San Marin and Novato High Music Programs and the Marin Youth Symphony. Her cheering could be heard from the sidelines at countless soccer, basketball games and at the poolside during swim meets of the Novato Rip Tide. Passionate about nature and the outdoors, Sandra was the driving force behind frequent family outings on local trails, as well as the family's annual car camping and later backpacking trips to the Sierras, the Trinity Alps and the Olympic Peninsula. A patron of the arts, she was a frequent visitor to museums around the world. She visited exhibits from the Legion of Honor in San Francisco to the Lenbachhaus in Munich, filling the family's bookshelves and coffee tables with numerous art books. She was occasionally successful in suppressing her husband's love of food for a visit to yet another museum on trips. An avid reader, Sandra loved a wonderful story. Authors such as Ian McEwan, Cormac McCarthy and Harper Lee were favorites. This love of books was passed on to her sons and husband. Sandra was a closet political activist. She would initiate discussions on topics that were important to her with both family and friends. She provided financial support to many local and regional environmental conservation groups. The Daily Show and Colbert Report were Sandra's favorite shows, as they addressed the political themes that were important to her in a way that matched her sarcastic sense of humor. Sandra is survived by her sons Tobias, Dennis and Philip, her husband Thilo, her mother Jennie and her brother Tom. A Celebration of Life will be held at the family home in Novato, on April 6, 2013 between 2:00 and 4:00PM. Please R.S.V.P. to The.Family.Koehler@ gmail.com with the number of people attending. Please email, send, or bring photos; donated photos are appreciated. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sandra's name to Hospice by the Bay, Natural Resources Defense Council or the American Cancer Society.