Robert Lee Sandy

Robert "Bob" Sandy, 78, passed away Tuesday, February 10th, at home with his family. He was born in Gary, Indiana on July 30th, 1947. He graduated from Dyer High School where he excelled in wrestling. His first job was with Teibel's Restaurant in Schererville, Indiana and his favorite early job was as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the local pool. He was also a certified scuba diver.

After graduation he joined the Air Force and became an air traffic controller based out of Hon Tre Island where the USAF, along with the Army, operated a crucial radar station on the island during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge he took a job as a center air traffic controller for flights into and out of Chicago O'Hare until he took an early retirement. He then sailed his boat Crazy Horse from Chicago to Stuart Florida to attend Chapman School of Seamanship.

In Florida he met his wife, Karen Holland, and they had two children, Sheri Sandy Veski and Jesse Sandy. Bob started a small business located in Jensen Beach, called The Looking Glass where he displayed his artistic talents etching beautiful, sandblasted glass in businesses and homes for clients in Martin, Palm Beach, and St Lucie County. He went on to acquire his Florida state certified general contractors license and started his construction business, Robert Sandy Construction, specializing in Marine construction in the Martin County, Florida area. Instilling his love for the environment with his dedicated employees and their Marine Construction projects, the company was awarded the first Department of Environmental Protection award bestowed to a private company for Protection of Florida's Natural Resources. His love of the water led him to live on a sailboat with his family for several years. He spent many memorable vacations in the Florida Keys snorkeling with his kids who he taught his love of the sea and its natural wonders.

Upon his final retirement Bob moved to Volusia County to be near his daughter Sheri Sandy Veski, her husband Philip Veski, and grandchildren, Landon Veski and Evelyn Veski along with his son Jesse Sandy. He also spent as much time as possible at his second home on forty acres in the central hill countryside of Hohenwald, Tennessee where he enjoyed the streams and rivers that surrounded his property with his many friends and family.

When he was diagnosed with his third cancer, he was able to be cared for at home by his dedicated family with the help of the wonderful staff at Advent Home Hospice. Robert's last wish was to be cremated with his remains scattered on his beautiful cliff above the river in Tennessee and to nurture his beloved fruits trees.

He is survived by wife, Karen Holland; daughter, Sheri Sandy Veski (Philip Veski) and son Jesse Sandy; grandchildren, Landon Veski and Evelyn Veski; sisters, Thelma Wagner and Tammy Crook. He is preceded in death by his father Roy Sandy, his mother Joyce Crook, his sisters Lorrie Crook and Juanita Crook, and his brother Gilbert Crook.

A family hosted Celebration of Life will be held on his property in Tennessee with a date to be decided for later this summer.