Sandra "Sandy" Haber

Haber, Sandra "Sandy" NISKAYUNA Sandra "Sandy" Haber, 76 of Niskayuna and Hague, N.Y., died on April 29, 2022, in her home after a long illness. Sandy is survived by her husband, Dr. Harold "Hal" Haber; daughter, Alexandra Bar-Cohen (Barak Bar-Cohen) of Princeton, N.J.; son, Marc Haber (Kate Haber) of Longmeadow, Mass.; her grandchildren, Gabriel, Gefen, and Luna Bar-Cohen, Murphy, Rowan, Dylan, and Maeve Haber; sister-in-law, Gylvia Hensler; brother, David Bracher; sister, Patricia Morris; and dogs, Frankie, Tonks, and Brooklyn. Sandy was predeceased by her grandmother, Charlotte Bastin; her mother, Helen (Gerry) Bracher; stepfather, George Bracher; and brother, Michael Hensler. Sandy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a hardworking mother. She was a long-legged fiery redhead who embraced life, overcoming a challenging upbringing by taking solace in memorable summers on the family farm in Kentucky with her beloved Granny and brother, Mike. Working as a stenographer clerk for the Department of the Army at the Cincinnati Induction Center, she fell in love with the dashing green-eyed, curly haired chief medical officer, Dr. Haber from Brooklyn. Together they moved to New York City to start their lives. After moving to Niskayuna in the early 1970s, she was a devoted mother to their two children, Ali and Marc, serving as Brownie leader, room parent, Cub Scout den mother, Kadima youth group leader, Little League manager and in many other roles. She was famous for her award-winning apple pie and painstakingly hand-sewn and intricate Halloween costumes. A shining star in the dog show world, she had many successes in the Breed, Obedience and Agility rings, and was an avid mentor of youth handlers. Sandy built a top notch canine breeding program, Medina Kennels, with Golden Retrievers and later, Papillons. Outside of the ring, she trained many of her champions to be therapy dogs, bringing comfort to countless residents of area nursing homes. Sandy was a delegate to the American Kennel Club and an active member of the Papillon Club of America as well as a board member of both Mohawk and Saratoga Kennel Clubs. Of her many accomplishments she was most proud of "Frankie," her Silver Butterfly Recipient, Best in Show, Multiple Best in Specialty Show, and Grand Champion Platinum, Medina's Luck Be A Lady Tonight. Sandy was a voracious reader who did the daily crossword puzzle in pen. When she was not traveling the world with the love of her life, Sandy loved floating with her friends in Lake George, spotting hummingbirds and fireflies, and watching the fairy path stretch across the lake at moonrise. Every night was game night with family and friends at their Lake George home; she was a highly competitive player of Scrabble. Boggle, and Trivial Pursuit. Aside from the dogs, her greatest pride was her kids and especially grandchildren. No matter what was going on in her life she was always "Johnny-on-the-spot" to be with them. She taught them how to be responsible dog owners and how to embrace life without regard to limitations. She was a tenaciously positive and thoughtful human being who never demanded, always gave, and made every day a little brighter for those around her. Thanks to the warm and welcoming home she created her grandkids always thought of her lakeside house as their home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 2, in the Congregation Agudat Achim, 2117 Union St., Niskayuna, with the burial immediately to follow in the Agudat Achim Cemetery in Rotterdam. Shiva will be observed at the Haber home on Monday and Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, The Lake George Land Conservancy at LGLC.org or at takethelead.org. For directions or to leave a condolence message for the family, please visit levinememorialchapel.com