Andy attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan, Texas in 1964. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas A&M University in 1969, with hard-earned funds from his various construction and administrative jobs. He married Sandra, his high school sweetheart, on June 9, 1968. They moved to Houston as he started a new job with Campbell’s Soup Company. Andy later worked in the cosmetics industry for Yardley, Lanvin-Charles of the Ritz, and Givenchy. Lanvin-Charles of the Ritz named him Salesman of the Year in 1975.
In 1979, the family moved to the Pecan Grove neighborhood in Richmond. Motivated to build his own business, Andy opened a Farmers Insurance agency in 1980. He managed a successful insurance practice for over 30 years. In 2003, he received a prestigious award for the most profitable Farmers agency in his district.
Andy spent most of his free time coaching his son Jeff’s various youth sports teams. He guided multiple Little League baseball championship and All-Star teams, instilling discipline, proper practice habits, competitive drive, and camaraderie in the boys. His efforts helped groom a number of future high school and college athletes.
As a father, Andy greatly enjoyed watching Jeff play sports. He always made time to play catch in the backyard or shoot baskets in the driveway. During those games, he taught his son how to improve his skills while also having fun. He made sure Jeff had the best equipment and undoubtedly was his biggest cheerleader at every game, often with a video camera in hand.
With a passion for sports, especially Texas A&M football, Andy joined the Aggie Club and began taking Jeff to games at age four. The Aggie spirit continues to run deeply in Jeff, who proudly graduated from Texas A&M as well, and the rest of the family today.
Andy loved riding horses with his father Ben, Uncle Frank, and Uncle Joe. He also loved hunting and talking sports & politics with his Uncle Sam. His enjoyment of the outdoors, horses, and cattle led him to purchase a ranch in Waller County, which remains family-owned. The impressive beauty of that land today comes directly from Andy’s vision and commitment.
Following the arrival of his granddaughters Caroline and Corinne in 2011 and 2013, respectively, Andy became known as “Pop Pop.” Nothing in the world could make Pop Pop smile more than spending time with and receiving hugs from his “precious babies.” He watched videos and read many handmade cards from those little girls until his final moments on Earth.
Andy is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sandra (“Sandy” or “Sissy”); son Jeff, his wife Velda, and granddaughters Caroline and Corinne of Katy; sister Linda and her husband Frank Jentsch of Hearne; uncle Sam Salvato and cousins Charlene and Debi Salvato of Houston; nephew Lt. Col. Lester McLaughlin of Southern Pines, North Carolina; and numerous cousins in Bryan and Houston. His devout faith, many prayers, and the doctors at M.D. Anderson gave him the strength to sustain his 12-year battle with cancer. Andy’s family takes comfort in knowing he is now at peace in the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Visitation and a memorial service will be held on Friday, March 12th from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Settegast-Kopf funeral home in Sugar Land. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, March 13th at 11:00am at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests equivalent monetary donations to M.D. Anderson or other cancer research organizations in Andy’s name.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18