I have wonderful memories of spending the night with Susan when we were both in elementary school. Your Mom was always so incredibly warm and welcoming. I love those opportunities to be in your home and feel the great spirit your Mom created and nurtured there.

I send my best wishes and deep condolences to all of you, and especially to Susan.

I have such a deep respect for this family and all of their accomplishments. I was not able to spend an enormous amount of time with my Aunt Helen, but I am so grateful for the few times I did have and hold them so close to my heart. She was such a phenomenal woman and she will be greatly missed by many.
With much love, 
Susan Frank Boswell, Murray, Utah

     She was my best friend. The most beautiful women in the world. And the greatest person I’ve ever known in my life.

My condolences to the Sandack Family.  Helen was such a force!   I enjoyed playing golf and bridge with her and seeing her throughout the city; the library, the theatre, the bridge tables, the market!  She always stopped by to see ME~it was such an honor.
She was a lioness!!

Warm regards,

Kathy Smith

Helen was the most understanding and nurturing of the mothers in our neighborhood. A wonderful person.  To wally the sage wit - keep chugging.  Attached is our family  at our youngest child's graduation from law school last year - he now works for my firm.  love to all the Sandacks, Bill Sargeant

What a wonderful woman and her love of life touched all she met.  I personally had many fun golf times with her in the past at Willowcreek Country Club.  Feel blessed to have seen her recently at the Salt Lake Country Club playing bridge.  Much love to you all as you live on with the wonderful memories of Helen.  Sincerely, Susan Eliason Turner Mannos

Nancy -

My love and prayers go out to you and your family.  Your mom was a very special lady.

It was my great pleasure to know Helen for the last few years. She and Wally were a lovely, generous couple--even having me stay in their home for three months while I wrote a play for her daughter Nancy's theater company, The Salt Lake Acting Company. Nancy and all her family are in my thoughts.

To The Sandack Family....You are so lucky to have had so many Great Years with Helen. She is a amazing woman! My heart goes out to all of you at this  time and always.

Wally and family:  So sorry to read of Helen's passing.  I remember her well when she would come to your office to visit.  Wally, I drove past your street a few weeks ago, and wondered how you were doing.  I hope you are doing well.  You may or may not remember me--Rayola Olsen Collard--a secretary to you and Del Draper in the mid 50's and 60's.  I spent 13 great years with Draper, Sandack & Saperstein.  My best to you and your family.

Rick...My friend from SF, a friend of Carol Landa's just emailed me about your mom. My heart is with you and your family. I remember my meeting her and your dad in Palm Springs. You are blessed to have had such a charming and genuine mother. I wish you comfort.
You should only be well.
Love,
Mark

To Nancy and family,
"Love is that absolute spiritual daring that eviscerates the old self so something new and inward can come into being."

To a  family of spiritual daring -- inherited from your mother, Helen, I send my sympathy and compassion for your loss, and my respect for what she gave you.


Kathleen

It was our great good fortune to spend many years of winter
vacations in Los Cocos near Wally and Helen.Their love,friendship,family and zest for life made that time some of the most enjoyable of our life. Helen was the most joyful,creative,energetic person I have ever met. We were blessed to know her and will always miss her.
Lynda and Royal Smith,Vancouver,Canada

I am so sorry for your loss.  My mother, Carmen Burnham, worked with Helen in the Rowland Hall Home and School Association, and was amazed at Helen's boundless energy.  She also enjoyed Helen's wicked sense of humor.  We were fortunate to have such a talented woman in our midst.

Dear Wally, Nancy, Roger, Rick, Arthur and Susan:
I would like to join your many friends, relatives and dear ones in offering deep and heartfelt sympathy at the passing of your beloved wife and mother. Words fail me to adequately comfort you in this painful juncture in your life. All that I can say is that G-d should grant you consolation, and may you never again know of any â€œTzaarâ€ or grief. 

When someone passes away it is tragic, but solace can be found in the words of our traditional expression of consolation to mourners -- an expression that has been hallowed by the tradition of many generations of our people -- "May the Almighty comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem." 

We may ask, why mention those who mourn for "Zion and Jerusalem" when comforting an individual on his/her personal loss?  A deeper analysis, however, will reveal that the mourner will find comfort precisely in this comparison of his loss with the Destruction and exile of Zion for two reasons. First, the mourning over the Destruction of Zion and Jerusalem is shared by Jews throughout the world. It is true that those who live in Jerusalem and actually see the Western Wall and our Temple in ruins feel the anguish more deeply, but even those who live far away feel sorrow.  Similarly, the grief-stricken individual or family will find solace in the thought that "all the children of Israel are as one complete whole," that their sorrow is shared by all our people. Second, the Babylonians and the Romans were able to destroy only the Temple of wood and stone, of gold and silver, but they could not harm the inner Temple in the heart of every Jew, for it is eternal. In the very same way, the hand of death can touch only the body, but the soul is eternal; it has simply ascended to the World of Truth. Every good deed we do in accordance with the will of G-d, the Giver of life, adds to the merit of the departed soul, as well as to its spiritual welfare. 

May you be comforted with all the mourners of Zion. 

Warm, Personal Regards, 

Rabbi Benny Zippel
Chabad Lubavitch of Utah

I loved Helen as so many did.  She was an early example of how to be a devoted Mother, wife and also very much her 'own person'.
My love to Wally, Nancy, Rick,Roger, Arthur and Susan.
Patty Sargeant
+ Bill & David)

I have great memories of Wally and Helen.  I met them both when I was 20 .  I was working for Ted Moss.  They were inspirational.  I am so grateful that I had mentors like them.  The political world today is awful.  Thanks so much for the good memories.

Helen was a great lady.  Her contributions to this community are  large.  Of course, the team of Helen and Wally was something to behold.  They continue to contribute to this community through their outstanding children. It is a lasting legacy.

I adored and admired Helen so very much.  We had a great time in dance aerobics class, and then in the water class as well.  Her role in Steel Magnolias was played to perfection, at an age where most of us could not remember three lines, much less a whole play.  Love to the whole outstanding family.
Terrell Dougan

Such a wonderful person and friend for so many years. I will miss her always. in her place another star shines in the heavens. Phil Cowley

To my dear Uncle Wally and my dear cousin's Nancy, Roger, Rick, Artie, Susan and your families,
I send my heartfelt condolences in the passing of Aunt Helen.... beloved wife, Mother and Grandmother. Aunt Helen and all of you always welcomed me and my sisters into your home and into your lives. My sisters and I have amazing memories of sharing holidays at your home. You are loving and kind people and I am so blessed to call you my family. I thank you for being in my life for all these years.
I send you all my love and deepest sympathy during this difficult time of loss. 
Much love always, Gloria Frank

My mother, Gail Hickman, is not a computer person, so I wanted to add her condolences for her. She loved Helen and has fond memories of appearing with her in STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Salt Lake Acting Co., to mention just one of their many adventures. Helen was indeed a funny, vibrant force of nature. Our thoughts go out to all her loved ones.

To Maggie, and the Sandack Family,
Myself and the Brown & Devey Families are very sorry for your loss. If there is anything you need please do not hesitate. 
Love you forever and ever Maggie,

Chelsea, Hailey & Cameron Devey, Sterling and Michael Brown

Helen, Wally and their family are the best!  My mother Judy loved and enjoyed Helen's personality and I know Helen will be missed at the Star 21 Salon.  

Helen and Wally forever!

With every best wish, 

Rob Miller

Nancy and family,
Bob and I are so very sorry for your loss. Your mother was a force, indeed.  Her energy and spirit will be greatly missed.  Live well in her memory,
Bob & Sheryl Ivey

Aunt Helen, the matriarch of our family, how I will miss your love and support.  Since we were young children, the Sandack home has been a respite for my sisters and me.  How fortunate I am to have had several weeks in Salt Lake City just recently. I was able to spend quality time with my Aunt Helen and Uncle Wally and to say "goodbye" to this treasure of a woman.  My heart is full of gratitude for the times we shared.  I send Love & Aloha to my cousins and family members with whom I share this loss.
Shaloha
Julie Frank

Here is some additional biographical information and thoughts about my mother.

Her grandchildren are David (Suzanne) and Joey (Melanie) Borgenicht, Emily Sandack, Jonathan Casey (Corinne) Sandack, Avery, Sally and Maggie Sandack, and Elliott and Tobin Jarman.  She is also survived by six great grandchildren, Sophie, Max, Jonah, and Eli Borgenicht, and Tyler and Madeline Sandack. 

Helen was born in Salt Lake City on September 21, 1917, the youngest child of Arthur and Bertha Frank who, with babes in arm, immigrated to Utah from Grodna, White Russia in 1903.  She attended school at Wasatch Elementary, Stewart School, Rowland Hall and Mills College where she received a theater degree.  She married Wally on November 12, 1940.  They both worked in radio at the time and immediately faced an uncertain future as Wally was called to serve in the Pacific during the war.  Afterwards, their lives flourished and Helen put her talents to use in many local professional theatrical productions and benefits for Temple B’nai Israel, Congregation Kol Ami, The Pioneer Memorial Theatre Guild, The Utah Democratic Party and the Utah State Bar.  She welcomed and charmed the many notable people she met and those she knew, in all walks of life. She amazed her young friends on the golf course at Willow Creek and Mission Hills Country Clubs, and at the duplicate bridge table until just last month.  She was the principal caretaker for her husband. They kept each other alive and at home, well beyond normal expectations.  She was generous with her good fortune, proud of her Jewish heritage, and able to laugh and smile to the very end. She will be missed and remembered by many people. 

The family wishes to thank Dr. Fred Gottlieb for his guidance and availability to Mom; to Luz Marina Jara and to Heather Bittinger, all of whom made her passing, a loving experience.

What a terrible loss to all of us who were fortunate to know and love her.  They don't make 'em like that any more.  Love, Carol (Landa)

Helen added joy to the life of anyone who knew her.  Indeed, the world has lost a great lady!  My sympathy goes out to her beloved family.

OBITUARY

Helen Sandack

September 21, 1917 – October 3, 2010

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services