Andy Drinkard

Andrew (Andy) Joseph Drinkard was born in Atlanta, Georgia on February 17, 1984 and passed away unexpectedly on February 28, 2017. He was known for being a compassionate, friendly, outgoing, caring, and intelligent young man, who reached out to all he met with generosity and kindness of spirit.

Andy attended elementary school in Cobb County followed by middle and high school at Pace Academy, where he established many lifelong friendships. He attended the University of Colorado and Georgia State University, earning a BA in Religious Studies. He continued post-graduate studies at the University of West Georgia and earned an MA in Psychology in 2015. He met the love of his life, his wife Jen, while at West Georgia, and together they have a precious son, Sam, whom he playfully nicknamed “The Hamster.” Andy was born with a rare genetic disorder, which led to many surgeries over his short life, many physical limitations, and worst of all, constant pain. Despite these challenges, his mind was as sharp as a tack. He was a great writer and had a sense of humor and dry wit that kept us all laughing. Right after his undergraduate studies, he lived in Hsin Chu Taiwan, where he taught young children the English language. He loved learning about different cultures and religions, often saying he wanted to go to Peru to see if a shaman could help him manage the pain associated with his disorder. He spent his short professional life as a counselor/therapist assisting clients from the inner city, from broken families, individuals who were suicidal, and the elderly.Although he didn’t attend Georgia Tech, he was passionate about Georgia Tech sports. He loved Saturday afternoons at Bobby Dodd Stadium, going to away games, Georgia Tech basketball, as well as the Atlanta Braves, Falcons and Hawks.

He loved playing the drums, listening to his father’s favorite 70’s rock groups, especially Chicago, and classical music—the more eclectic and dissonant—the better. He shared his father’s love for banjo and bluegrass, and loved playing bridge and wine tasting with his close friend and high school band teacher Scott Campbell. He had a special place in his heart for his sister, Jenny, his sidekick of 30 years. He loved his getaway trips to Lake Cherokee in South Carolina and taking cruises in the pontoon boat. He was a passionate stargazer and storm watcher. He loved magic and was quite adept at entertaining a crowd with his tricks. He loved dancing, especially doing his Michael Jackson imitations, and treasured both his Woodstock GA and Czech heritage, becoming proficient in making a Czech Christmas bread called “vanocka.” He loved his community of peers at Melson Hall at the University of West Georgia, and was a true example of what it meant to embody humanistic psychology. Andy is survived by his wife Jennifer Soignier Drinkard, his son Samuel Oliver Drinkard, his parents James Linton Drinkard and Maria Pechacek Drinkard, his sister Jennifer Elizabeth Drinkard, his mother-in-law Donna Sadler, numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. The memorial service will be held on Tuesday March 7, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Northside United Methodist Church 2799 Northside Drive Atlanta 30305. Visitation with family will be held in the Fellowship Hall from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Interment will follow the memorial service at Enon Cemetery in Woodstock, GA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to an Education Fund for Sam Drinkard at the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/samdrinkard.