Sandra Laby

Sandra Laby, 78, of Ventura, died on September 24, 2016. Sandra, the loving wife of Jordan Laby and daughter of David Goldstein and Jeanie “Jean” (Greenberg) Goldstein, died at home from pancreatic cancer. Philanthropist, businesswoman, art collector, dancer, wife, mother, and grandmother, Sandra will be dearly missed by her family and community.

Sandra is survived by husband Jordan, sons K. Phillip with wife Nicole and Todd with wife Amelia, as well as grandchildren Jackson, Tess, and Ry, all of Oakland. She is also survived by her sister Joan Zwein with husband Ben, nieces Lora Adler with husband Michael, and Diana Zwein, and nephew Darren Zwein. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Sandra was born on October 10, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York. In 1947 she moved with her family to Los Angeles, California. She graduated in 1955 from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. She attended Los Angeles City College (LACC) followed by Cal State Los Angeles, CA, where she received her teaching credentials and achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree. She worked for Beachy Street Elementary School, in Pacoima as a teacher for 5 years. Following this, she started a successful business purchasing and renting commercial real estate, largely in the LA basin, a career that she maintained her whole life.

Sandra married Jordan Laby at Factors Hall on Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles in 1960 and remained happily married for 56 years until her death.

In 1979, Jordan and Sandra moved from Los Angeles to Ventura. Sandra described her new city as a beautiful relaxed place to live and raise a family. She felt the people were kind and caring, and that Ventura offered her a sense of a small town life that she enjoyed. She would watch the ocean, the birds, and the boats and described it as a good way to live.

Years after moving, Sandra and Jordan made it their mission to unearth the artistic talents in Ventura. In Sandra’s words, “Art and life are intertwined.” She has been instrumental in the nurturing of key cultural venues like the New West Symphony, Rubicon Theatre Company, the Ventura Music Festival, and many others. A unique facet of Sandra’s local contribution is the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts that she and Jordan founded in 1999 to bring various artists and arts organizations together. In 2011, Sandra and Jordan founded Harmony Project of Ventura County to bring music to underserved youth in the community. This program started small, helping several students incorporate music into their lives and has since grown to incorporate students from elementary school to high school learn music and play instruments.

Sandra was a lifelong student and performer of dance, especially Flamenco. More recently she studied Tango, Salsa and Ballroom, and in her 70’s won the Oxnard Salsa Dance Contest, where she raised money for “Music in the Schools” in association with the Ventura Music Festival and the Harmony Project of Ventura County.

Sandra was active as a board member and/or advisor of organizations: the Ojai Music Festival, Ventura Music Festival, New West Symphony, Rubicon Theatre, Focus on the Masters, Ventura County Ballet, Ventura College Orchestra, ART City and Camerata Pacifica. She also supported the Ventura Film Society, Jewish Federation of Ventura County, Jewish Family Services, Museum of Ventura County, and FOOD Share. A founding member of the Ventura Botanical Gardens she was also a colleague of the Museum Collectors Council for New Acquisitions of Art. She was president of the National Council of Jewish Women Ventura County, and was a member of the Ventura Rotary Club having received the Paul Harris Award.

Sandra was honored for serving on the first foundation board of the California State University Channel Islands. She was named “Woman of Valor” by the Jewish Federation, honored with the Ventura Mayor’s Arts Leaders Award, the Ventura Music Festival’s First Founders Award, the Ventura Interfaith Ministerial Award as “Woman of Vision”, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce “Shining Stars”, and the Ventura County Ballet Company “Partner in Dance” Award. Most recently Sandra and Jordan received a humanitarian award presented by the New West Symphony in honor of their work with the Harmony Project of Ventura County.

On a lighter note, Sandra was one of the ladies of the “Hot Dames 2010 Calendar”, celebrating Rubicon Theatre’s years of shows. She also performed in the Ventura County Ballet Company’s annual Nutcracker Production.

To her family, Sandra was a dedicated loving catalyst for nurturing connections. She cherished her devoted husband, her two sons and their wives, and her three grandchildren. Loving memories of her will sustain them throughout their lifetimes.

With her significant philanthropy and all the people’s lives she enriched, Sandra will be long remembered in the community at large.

A funeral service will be held at Temple Beth Torah, 7620 Foothill Road, Ventura, CA 93004 to begin promptly at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, September 28th. A private burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to New West Symphony Harmony Project, a youth development program that provides free music instruction and instruments to youth in underserved areas of Ventura. For more information, go to www.newwestsymphony.org.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com