Sandra Still Sakurai

Sandra Still Sakurai was born February 23, 1935, in Lancaster, Ohio, to Julia Pennington Still and William Chester Still. She grew up and went to school in Lancaster, and attended Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio. Upon graduating from Western, she married Earl Weber and moved to Michigan, where they both acquired teaching certificates, then began teaching in Flint, Michigan. Within a few years, Earl suffered an early death. Sandy then went back to Graduate School at Miami University of Ohio, acquiring an advanced degree in Student Personnel Work. This led to her appointment as an Assistant Dean of Students at Western College, her Alma Mater. There, she met Dick Sakurai, who was teaching there, and they got married in December of 1964. Subsequently, they worked for many years together or separately at several colleges in several Midwestern and East Coast cities and towns. On two occasions, Sandy dropped out for a while to bear two sons, Saren and Korien. Sandy also for a while did Career Counseling, then later, after Dick retired, went back to Graduate School at Johns Hopkins University to acquire another advanced degree, this time in Personal Counseling leading to becoming a Licensed Personal Counselor, and to becoming a counselor at Domestic Violence Center, which she did until she retired . She also during these times designed and had built two unique houses which were much admired.

After retirement, Sandy and Dick decided to move to Oregon (where Dick had grown up). Sandy had been pursuing painting for a number of years. At this point, she wanted to study poetry more seriously, so she started taking classes on poetry, most notably from Paulann Peterson. Poetry and painting were a good part of her retirement years.

She is survived by her husband Dick, son Saren and his wife Yoshika, and their son Genji (Sandra’s grandson), and her son Korien, who all live in California.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 3rd, at Eastrose Fellowship Unitarian-Universalist, 1133 NE 181st Avenue, Portland, OR 97230, 503-665-2628. Come with a celebratory note.