Sanford "Sandy" Reed

1994 - 2020

"In the time of your life, live-so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it." – William Saroyan, The Time of Your Life

Sanford "Sandy" Reed danced and sang his way through life bringing joy to the hearts of anyone who was lucky enough to cross his path. Even in his final moments, Sandy brought a smile to a stranger's face as he danced across a crosswalk on an evening walk with his dog, Casey. Tragically, his life was cut short when he was struck by a car on June 11, 2020.

Sandy was born on October 5, 1994 in Glendora, California to Sanford "Sam" and Catharine "Deedie" Pilato Reed. He joined an older sister, Catharine "Katie" Reed, who was his biggest fan and protector throughout their lives. Their childhood was magical; their home was a revolving door for friends (many considered family), and a multitude of dear pets. The only time Catharine put her foot down was when Sandy and Katie came home with a baby boa constrictor, and even a welcome home party and custom cake for the snake couldn't change their mom's mind.

While Sandy was in kindergarten, the family moved to the Coachella Valley. He attended Marywood Country Day School, James Earl Carter Elementary School, and Palm Desert Middle School before graduating from Palm Desert High School in 2012.

Sandy discovered his passion and innate talent for acting in a summer program at the McCallum Theatre when he was six years old. Sandy's life goal was to become a professional actor and bring joy and laughter to the world. As Sandy's interest in the performing arts deepened, his mom supported his dream by ferrying him to countless play rehearsals, performances, music and vocal lessons through elementary, middle, and high school.

He joined Children's Playtime Productions in 2006 appearing in Doctor Dolittle, performed at the McCallum Theatre. Before graduating from high school, he was featured in both supporting and leading roles in CPP productions of Pinocchio, Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Beauty and the Beast, and more. He got his first taste as a headliner as the lead in Peter Pan and learned how to "fly" on stage at a special workshop in LA. It was at 17, while he was putting his heart and soul into becoming the iconic lead Link Larkin in the Palm Canyon Theatre's production of Hairspray that he decided acting was more than a hobby – it would be his career. It became a ritual for all of his friends and family to greet him at the side stage with roses following each performance.

Sandy shared a love of music with his mother, and could name and sing songs from every decade, from Frank Sinatra to Fleetwood Mac. These moments are cherished by Catharine, as he was her little superstar. His grandparents, Ron and Sherrie Auen, often took him to local karaoke spots where he belted out classics such as "Over the Rainbow." Sandy was known for hopping on a stage and delighting audiences with impromptu performances. On one of many memorable occasions, at the age of 10, he gave a spontaneous performance of "Happy Birthday" to an audience of 5,000 before the surprise special guest, Barbra Streisand, took the stage. Ron and Sherrie, involved in many projects that support communities in need, instilled in him a selflessness and a desire to make the world a better place. These early experiences also led to Sandy's balanced approach to life – beyond working and performing, he spent many hours in quiet reflection and digging deep to understand his own values, principles and concern for social justice.

Taking his love of the performing arts to the next level, Sandy was accepted into both the highly-prestigious School of Dramatic Arts and School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, graduating with a double major in 2016. He spent a summer in New York City at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and a summer in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. While attending USC, Sandy joined the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity where he bonded with brothers from around the world. He was unanimously, and unsurprisingly, voted in as Social Chair and spent a happy year coordinating exchanges and organizing activities for the house.

He took to heart his dad telling him, "Don't let school get in the way of your education." Following college graduation, he embarked on an extensive solo tour of Europe. In a travel documentary he produced from the experience, titled "This is For You, Older Sandy," he shared that traveling gave him a magnified perspective of the vast world; it connected him to history and opened his eyes to the diverse challenges facing humanity.

After his adventures abroad, Sandy moved to West Hollywood to audition and work as a server at the bistro Zinqué, a well-known and beloved gem of the neighborhood. Work became jubilation for the entire staff with Sandy's laughter and zest for life. Sandy created a community by turning tables of strangers into friends, often ones that weren't even in his section. Sandy was off to a great start when he was signed by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which booked a number of film and commercial auditions. Finding community in West Hollywood was a special time for Sandy as he found acceptance, strength, confidence and pride in his identity as an openly gay man.

In 2018, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with goals of stretching himself personally and furthering his career. He was signed by Houghton Talent Agency and became embedded in their supportive and creative community, while furthering his skills and talents. He recently expanded his focus to include writing and directing and had gained the attention of some of the top talent brokers in the business. Aside from his work, the friendships he created there in such a short amount of time grew strong and inspired him to see the world in a new light. While living in Atlanta, he came back "home" often to be with family and also gained tremendous experience and forged deep friendships while working for the Palm Springs International Film Festival the last two seasons.

In television and film, Sandy was the lead in Forgive Us…, produced by Pineapple Cut Pictures; co-star in People Magazine Investigates, produced by Investigation Discovery; lead in Runaway Children, produced by Saddleback College; lead in Hacker and Dad, both produced by the University of Southern California; and lead in Summer '03, produced by Loyola Marymount University. In theatre, he was Henry Roebling in Fire in a Dark House (Whitefire Theatre); Chuck in The Sex Comedy (Defiance Theatre Company); Tony Kirby in You Can't Take It With You (University of Southern California); Judd Templeton in Tribute (Surf City Theatre Company); Cinderella's Prince in Into The Woods (University of Southern California); Arcite/Valerius in The Two Noble Kinsmen (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). He was featured in numerous commercials, including ones for TikTok, Amazon Prime, Pop-Tarts, and Popeyes.

Although COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill, it gave the Reed Family a special opportunity to be together – Sandy from Georgia and Katie from New York. Their recent unexpected days in the desert gave them more time to celebrate the life of their beloved grandfather, Ron Auen, who passed away in November 2019. They enjoyed numerous philosophical discussions of love and life and where the future would lead. Sandy's focus was doubling down on his career, without ever losing sight of living life to the fullest and sharing those moments with his friends all over the globe.

Sandy continuously expressed his gratitude for his family and friends, staying in touch through social media, texts, and the lost art of sending heartfelt, handwritten notes. He is survived by his mother and sister, Catharine and Katie Reed; his father and step-mother, Sam and Lori Reed; his grandmothers, Sherrie Auen and Jean Reed; and his aunts Paula Pilato, Sue Reed, and Sara Reed. Outside of his family, he created relationships from childhood with his closest friends Aviel and Dariann. The bond these three created blossomed into the truest love that remains unbreakable.

The family will have a private burial, with a celebration of life planned for Thursday, June 25. Details are at www.weloveyousandy.com. Making a difference in the lives of others was a cherished value of Sandy's. A memorial contribution to Guide Dogs of the Desert, www.guidedogsofthedesert.org, would be especially meaningful, as Sandy loved their mission, which combines his love for animals while also changing the lives of those who benefit from a canine companion.

Sandy's family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from his extended network of friends. These messages consistently touch on his sweet and loving nature, his kindness and playfulness, and how he was everyone's best friend, everyone's greatest encourager, and everyone's brightest light. One post in particular summed up his spirit: "It was impossible not to smile around you, and all too easy to laugh. You lived with fervor, optimism and joy, and inspired every life you touched to follow suit. Your light was extinguished far too soon."