Sandra Louise Coffin

Posting today on what would have been Sandy's 70th birthday. It's a bittersweet day, thinking of how I would have called her this morning to sing happy birthday to her.

The picture of you, Sandy and Aunt Barbara laughing is exactly how I remember all you. I can hear the three distinct laughs just looking at the picture.

So many of my memories of Sandy and her family include fun and laughter. My family and hers would go to Family night at our Meeting and our Moms would bring food for the potluck. Barbara , her Mom, would many times bring Spanish Rice. She would wrap her casserole in newspaper in order to keep it hot on the long trip from Long Lake. Sandy hated the smell of moist newspaper keeping that rice dish warm. Im not sure if Sandy ever ate what her Mom painstakingly made.
In our teen years , we always looked forward to folk dancing at Camp. Her father would play, and call out what we were to do. George Crocker would always spin us with such vigor that we were nearly thrown with centrifugal force off the floor.
In later years there was a time we laughed until tears ran down our face, and we could hardly breath...something about a racoon had gotten in her beautiful new house. What a storyteller she was, and we were always the best audience for her stories.
i will miss her and the hilarious times we have shared.

Ours is a story of a friend who was deeply devoted to books - text books, cookbooks, fine literature and a massive collection of fiction and romance novels. We are the women of the Wine and Brag Book Club, of which Sandy was a founding member. At our first meeting, Sandy proudly introduced herself as a family practice physician. We quickly picked up on her last name, Coffin, and immediately began a long and entertaining discourse about how unfortunate such a name was for a doctor. Thus began a wonderful friendship with Sandy, our most academic member.

The book club began over twenty years ago with women drinking wine (no surprise) and telling stories. Our group members always have a story to tell. Some are true personal brags and some are just silly anecdotes. Sandy’s stories were legendary, showing a highly faceted picture of all the things she so enjoyed. One time Sandy set up an elaborate brag about a new man in her life - telling us how strong and dependable he was and how much he rocked her world only to find out she was referring to her new John Deer riding lawnmower! Another book club brag had Sandy giving an account of how she removed all the puffed dandelions taking over her lawn by using the central vacuum system from her house. That scene would have been hilarious to watch. We occasionally got a show and tell brag from Sandy. Probably the most memorable was her sewing mannequin built to Sandy’s exact body proportions. A life-size torso that to those of us who don’t sew was bizarre and fascinating at the same time. Sandy also bragged about looking like Meryl Streep. Her patients continually commented about the likeness and as expected she shared the stories at book club.

Sandy loved to garden and spent much of her free time in the pursuit of all things plantable: herbs, flowers, vegetables, bulbs, trees and shrubs. In the winter she perused seed and bulb catalogs looking for new treasures to plant in her garden. In spring she planted and planted. While bragging about getting all of her pots and window boxes planted, she said: “I thought it would take four hours, but it took nine. I now have beautiful flowers outside my windows.”

Finding books that all members of a book club can enjoy is difficult to achieve. With so many tastes in literature it’s a wonder we managed to do it so often, but we did because Sandy genuinely knew good books. Some of her favorites included The Nightingale, The Book Seller of Kabul, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, All the Twilight Vampire Books, and most recently The Thursday Murder Club book series. Sandy’s first book recommendation was In the Heart of the Sea. A story that includes Sandy’s ancestors. The book was about the true legend of Moby Dick and the crew of The Essex, an American whaleship from Nantucket, Massachusetts, that sank after a sperm whale attacked it in the Pacific Ocean in November 1820. Sandy’s Quaker heritage began on Nantucket so it was interesting to read a book that tied so closely to someone’s heritage.

Eating, drinking and talking about books is a great way to spend an evening with friends, especially if one of the treats was homemade by Sandy who loved to bake. Her kitchen was a treasure trove of baking equipment, cookbooks and spices that a serious baker would want and need. At a December book club meeting one year, we were all gifted Vietnamese cinnamon, which Sandy swore by and used in all her baking. King Arthur flour was also a necessity.

Sandy will be missed at book club. She brought so much to our group, sharing her stories, talents and medical knowledge. However, her most entertaining ability was how she could whistle and hum at the same time - a talent never to be forgotten. We loved you and miss you Sandy.

I met Sandy at Quaker Meeting as she was part of the talented and very welcoming Coffin family. I missed the FUN of knowing Sandy and Linda as children since I came to the Quakers as an adult. Until just now, I did not know that Sandy and I share the same middle name.
Sandy is the only one I've ever heard whistle-sing and I heard this marvel more than once. As an occasional reader of Facebook, I was able to follow her during Covid, and recently as her illness progressed. I loved reading her posts.
Blessings to you, Linda and Kathy, as you carry on.

It is so hard to know how to adequately honor my lifelong friend Sandy Coffin. She meant SO much to me in so many ways.

As a young child growing up in a Quaker church, we were required to sit quietly for (seemingly) very long periods of time. I was lucky. I had my friend Sandy Coffin by my side most Sundays. We would change up whose parents we were sitting by, as we were a challenging duo! Sandy taught me many word games we could play on a piece of paper. Inevitably, we would end up trying to stifle our giggles, much to our parent’s dismay. Her friendship got me through those long periods of silence, and I looked forward to seeing her each Sunday!

When we were about 8 years old, we were both very into our Barbie dolls. I especially enjoyed playing with her at her house, as her father Gordon had made his girls the biggest most beautiful Barbie house! He had made a child size play house too. I can’t recall if it was for my birthday or Christmas, but one year Sandy gave me the best gift I could ever imagine. She spent weeks sewing a whole box of darling outfits for my Barbie. Every hat, dress, night gown, ball gown, pants, shirts etc was meticulously designed and sewn. I was (and is) blown away with her talent in sewing and her sweet generosity. Best gift ever. Made with love.

In our teenage years, I remember some of our times at church camp. She made everything more fun. Once she got a popsicle stuck to her tongue…it was painful so we rushed to the nearest bathroom to run water on her tongue. To our elation, the popsicle came off! To our mortification, we realized after a male church member came out of a stall, that we were in the Men’s bathroom. Oh the memories. We giggled a lot over that one!

As a young adult, Sandy had a dream to backpack through Europe. I was honored she asked me to join her. I quit my job, we planned our extensive itinerary, bought Eurrail passes and went on this incredible adventure together. We visited at least a dozen countries and travelled many miles staying at youth hostels along the way. We had challenges and joys, and I thank her for that experience of a lifetime. She pushed me out of my comfort zone and I’ll be forever grateful.

Fast forward to more recent years, as age and life threw us curveballs, Sandy was always there to lend her experience in doctoring to alleviate fears and give sound advice. She and her family were by our side as we lost our parents. She was always willing to listen. Always gave us love and support, even when she herself was suffering. We bonded again as politics heated up. She was of like mind, so it was nice to comment to someone who kept up with current events and shared common beliefs and passions. I know she is watching, and pushing me again out of my comfort zone to be her voice. I’m trying to be. She wasn’t afraid to educate, repudiate, validate or celebrate about topics important to me and the world as a whole.

Like I said in the beginning, there is so much about Sandy and our shared memories that I treasure dearly and always will. Words fall short, but my heart is full.
You will be so missed Sandy. Love you for eternity.
From your giggle-pal Patti (White) Larson

I was so incredibly fortunate to have my desk next to Sandy’s for many years in the Cottage Grove clinic. We shared laughter, wisdom and sometimes tears, also many late nights!

My favorite memory was when she delivered my first granddaughter! My daughter was stationed in Puerto Rico with the Coast Guard at the time . Sandy agreed t take on her care at 36 weeks. It was a very joyful occasion for all of us! Sandy never asked anyone to leave! So we all shared in the birth, even my husband! Sandy was beaming!

Much love to Linda and Kathy!

I loved coming home and sharing in a meal or a coffee with Sandy and both of our families. She always had a twinkle in her eye, her laugh was contagious and listening and watching as she jabbed my dad about their childhood was truly a delicious treat. Such an interesting woman with so many stories to share. I am wondering now, though, how does one go from studying the romance languages to applying for Med school? She was something else!

Sandy and I became close friends the first year of Family Practice Residency at Bethesda hospital. She was an excellent doctor and a fun traveling, dining, gardening, and reading companion.
I've shared a picture: Sandy was the first visitor to hold my newborn son, as she was on call at our hospital when he was born.
I am grateful for her friendship throughout the years. Rest in peace, Sandy.

Sandy and I worked together at Family Practioners for many years. I was her nurse and marveled at the care, compassion and time she would give to every single patient she saw. We became good friends and had some very memorable vacations. New Zealond being my favorite. The last few years of her journey were not easy ones but she still maintained her independence, strong opinions and sense of humor. I am honored and blessed to have had Sandy as my friend. I miss you very much,Sandy, and I am grateful for the time we had together. Rest in God's boundless love.

So enjoyed the time we visited and broke bread at Sandy’s house you both. Such a great memory. I was very involved with 4-H. I wish I would’ve known that when we visited Sandy and I could’ve talked up a storm!

Family vacations to Minnesota were a highlight for me. Visiting our Grandparents, Uncle Gordon, Aunt Barbara, Linda Beth and Sandy was so much fun. Especially out on Long Lake. Home movies of Linda Beth and Sandy following me around their yard when I was two or three years old are among my favorites. Volleyball with Sandy was nothing short of amazing. Hard to imagine anyone with more enthusiasm. Be at Rest Sandy.

I met Sandy on our first day at Carleton, although she had written a letter(in her perfect handwriting) before we got there. I am enormously grateful to have had her as a friend. I will miss her dearly. Masha

Seeing the note about Sandy winning 4H awards reminded me of her bunnies. I loved seeing them when we visited, except for that really mean one she had, lol.