Sandra Johnson Breedlove

Sandra Johnson Breedlove passed away peacefully on Oct.7th in Monterey, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was 84. She will be remembered by friends and loved ones for her generosity, self-sacrifice, and goodwill toward others.

Sandra was born and raised in Santa Cruz. After graduating from Santa Cruz High School in 1958, she went on to Stanford University, where she earned a Political Science degree in 1962. In addition to her regular coursework at Stanford, she interned with AIESEC in Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. This was an adventurous time in her life. One of her favorite stories was of visiting Berlin with a friend and stepping back and forth over the line between East and West; then seeing the barrier there the next morning.

Also while at Stanford, she met David C. Breedlove; the two were married in 1963. After living at Fort Bliss while David completed his time in the Army, then in Menlo Park, they settled in Visalia, CA in 1969. There they raised their family. She was a dedicated and actively involved mother, supporting her son's Cub Scout pack and serving as her daughter's Girl Scout Troop Leader for several years.

Sandra had a strong sense of civic duty, taking on various projects in her community over the years. Because advancement of women's independence and achievement was a cause that she cared about, she was particularly proud of her role as treasurer for the campaigns of Mary Louise Vivier, the first woman mayor of Visalia.

Sandra worked as an administrative analyst for Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency, retiring in 2005 after 28 years. She continued living in Visalia until 2021.

Sandra is survived by her son, Mark Breedlove, of Somerville, MA; her daughter, Alison Breedlove, of Monterey, CA; and two grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Ivy Park at Monterey and Continuum Hospice for their kindness and support in her final months.

Sandra is interred at Santa Cruz Memorial Park.