On the first anniversary of your passing, I want you to know that you are still in our hearts and always will be, not just myself but also your brother Edward [Skippy], and all of your friends and relatives.  Just as our Mother's spirit was with us all of our lives, we feel your spirit with us and know that you and Mom will always be with us, watching over us. 

Meeziabots from all of us.

Patrick, Skip, family and friends

Things that make us think of Sandi

Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

Reading while sunbathing makes you well read [red]

A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired [too tired]

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion

If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed

When a clock is hungry, it goes back for seconds

The man who falls into an upholsstery machine is fully recovered

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat

Sandi, Your beautiful voice will linger in my mind forever--Love, Betty Vega

Sanci, You were truly a gift from God, beautiful on the outside and beautiful on the inside as well--Love, Camille, your student

Sandi, I will miss your beautiful music and winsome voice--Karen Inwald, PS I am learning to sing

Dear Sandi, You brought great music to Brooklyn, Prospect Heights and our own back yard.  Thank you, thank you, we will miss you--Jill and Roy Frasier

Sandi, You will always be remembered-CJO

I love you Sandi, Very I will always be with you to the end.  I'll see you soon.  Love you always--Tony, your Papi

Sandi O, You'll be greatly missed.  Do what you love, play music, That's your souls passion--Perry

Peace--Gen Callenden

Sandi, I think the time that we played together I know that you are playing with the angels "Over the Rainbow".  God be with you until we meet again,--Your fellow musician Norma Greaner

Sandi, You were our best neighbor in Brooklyn.  When we moved in under you at 142 Underhill and you introduced yourself as "the mayor of Brooklyn" we laughed, but after knowing you and the role you played in the nabe, loved by all, we think you may have been a little serious.  You are missed,  With love--Becky, Peter and now James.

She was the nicest and the best--Nettie Stout

I am so sorry  I never met Sandi, blessings to all at the beautiful tribute, your neighbor--Judy J

I didn't know you but I know you lived your life well-that is an accomplishment which I hope to achieve.  One can learn from those who are gone--even those we never knew.   Anon

Sandi, Now being featured in God's heavenly jazz orchestra, Love you forever!!--Drake Colley

Sandi, There are those who are missed.  Life will put you at the head of the list for being missed--Gerald L

Sandi, I miss you, say hello to my Mom and all of the cats - anon

Sandi, Thanks for the gigs, a true friend gets you a gig! - Wayne

Dear Sandi, May you be in our Lords embrace always - Ana

Sandi, Though I did not know you, this is my first time here, and I am thankful that you were able to keep this tradition alive.  It still lives on...thanks to you - Tony Amorisino

I knew Sandi way back when her mother called her Pumkin.  She was a loving warm teenager who made me feel welcome and special in her family.  Her talent was already evident.  I remember her lovely voice and hearing her sing was always a treat.  Her love of the flute came later and how impressive and contagious her flute playing was.  I only saw Sandi occasionally after younger years but she and her whole family will always hold a very special place in my heart.  Love you Sandi--Ruthie

Sandi was a special friend to my late husband, they played together for many years and my husband played the trumpet.  I fondly remember many happy Mardi Gras at Sandi's  She was very talented and very sweet and we will all miss her --(can't read name)

What can be said about Sandi that has not already been said, Good journey, Sandi - Sandra Redwoood

To my dearest cousin, you will be missed greatly.  I know you are up in heaven playing [on] your flute "When the Saints Come Marching In"  Your cousin--Debbie

Sandi, whenever I see a flute from now on, I will always think of you Love--Larry [picture of drums and sticks]

I knew Sandi way back when we worked many gigs together--Al

Wendell, thank you for the priviledge of attending this event in your yard.  A good friend of yours invited my, his name is Paul Johnson.  We appreciated the invite--David and Ernestine

Thank you Wendell for this party for Sandi--Chequie Sanchez family  su amigo

For Sandi, we had to be here, we go back too far--The Rices

To the family of Sandi, she was truly a wonderful person that will be thought of for some time to come--Sylul

I love you Sandi, rest in peace. - anon

Sandi, I am glad to know you through your friends and relations, blessed journey--anon

Sandi, first of all peace and love.  R I P  this is Halleljah  Someone who admired your personality, your spirit and your smile.  You will surely be missed  X O--anon

Sandi, there are so few people in this world who are true givers, I am so very happy to have known you. God bless you and miss you..--Lorraine and Dette

May the blessing of Sandi O's spirit,  brought to so many through her breath continue to sustain us with rememberances of her, bringing bliss from beyond--pastor of One World Life Systems

Dear Sandi O and family of Sandi, God is always at your back and His blessing always sustain you through tears and rain,  I never knew you before today but I know you now.  Please keep in touch because through fellowship, we will stay alive and engaged.  God bless you and yours--E Johnson

Sandi was born Sandra Kaye Oquendo, she was born at Lincoln Hospital, Bronx, NY on November 14th, 1948.  She had a blood problem that caused her to have excessive swelling and a deep blue pigmentation to her skin.  This condition was caused by an RH blood factor that necessitated a complete replacement of her blood volume.Sandi came away from this ordeal in great fighting form and with a nickname that was affectionately given to her by nurses that cared for her.  Depending on who knew her throughout her life, Sandra was  known as Sandra, Sandi, Sandi O, Kaye, Little Kaye or pumpkin.

Starting at age three, Sandi developed a way of naming things by sound, the way they looked or how they acted.  Brother Edward was Skippy, brother Patrick was Moochi, Mother was Bergal, pile driver, coukatochuum, pum-pum-pum-pum.  We had several dogs while we were young kids:  Chubender, Maggie, Dutifoo , Mutsie and Boofum.
Mutsie was a Cocker Spaniel but all of her offspring looked like Springer Spaniels.  Boofum looked like…….Boofum……a miniature grizzly bear that barked at horses, had a penchant for eating live electrical wires, was stolen and escaped, became a neighborhood hero when he bit into the lower lip of a very large Great Dane and refused to let go.

One night, many years later (when I was in college night classes and Sandi was in her late teens) I realized how well Sandi could cook.  I had come home very late and very hungry.  I found a pot on the stove with chunks of corned beef hash with veggies.  It was the best hash I have ever tasted, still, to this day.  Later that night, I heard Sandi call out, “Who ate Boofum’s dog food?”, guess that was me.  Sandi was a fabulous cook.

Sandi went to various schools in Brooklyn and also took courses at Fordham University. Sandi was multi-talented and enjoyed many careers within her lifetime, such as secretary, apartment remodeler, working as a teachers’ assistant and most of all honed her music skills in various bands, singing as well as playing guitar, electric keyboard, violin and , her favorite, the flute.

Sandi was always very positive and very upbeat.  She was strong willed and very focused.  It was a combination of these qualities that helped her recover from a brain aneurism and subsequent surgery for that malady in 1977.  She was a fighter to the very end, always choosing what she felt was the best path for her to take and sticking to that path with great forcefulness.

For twenty some odd years, Sandi partnered with Wendall Gault produce a jazz fest in Wendall’s  back yard each September on Labor Day Weekend.  Over the years, Sandi would refer to Wendall as “cousin”.  I found out that Sandi referred to ALL of her friends as “cousin”, like Jan McGill, Larry Williams, Victoria Missick and many more, too numerous to list.  I found out that I could not keep up with all of the people that Sandi cherished as “cousins”.  So, dear cousins, please keep Sandi in your hearts as she kept all of you in her heart.  Please sign Sandi’s “Cousin Book” and tell a little about yourself so that we, Edward and Patrick, can keep all of you in our hearts, also.
Sandi was an angel here on earth and now has her wings in heaven, and probably sitting here with us right now, saying, “Enough, now lets party, laugh, eat, sing, play and be merry!!”

Sandi, you will be missed by each of us and we will always keep our own fond memories of you.  When it comes to your music, we will always envision you singing and playing “What a Wonderful World” and “I did it My Way”

Preceded in transition by:
    Mother:    Muriel (Bergal) Kelsey Oquendo Ingram
    Father:       Miguel Oquendo
    Brother:    Miguel Oquendo, Jr.
    Stepfather:    Alfred Ingram
    Uncle:    Louis Kelsey
    Uncle:    Daniel Kelsey
    Aunt:    Florence Ferrebee
    Aunt:    Virginia Faulkner    

Still here to miss you:
    Brother:    Edward
    Sister-in-Law    Theresa
    Brother:    Patrick
    Sister-in-Law    Cheryl
    Uncle:        Herbert Kelsey
    Many wonderful nieces and nephews
    And many cherished cousins

We love you and will miss you greatly,

Your brothers,  Edward & Patrick

I will always remember Sandi O, first and foremost, for her kindess, generosity and love. Sandi was a kind soul who would greet you with a smile and a good word. Many times she would extend herself to try to help others. Her optimism, even when faced with adversity, was very admirable.  As musical colleagues who played the same instrument (the flute) Sandi O was a true inspiration to me. She always treated me like I was jazz royalty! That was the way that Sandi was, She was a true friend and a fine musician.  In 2007 I had the great honor of performing with Sandi at the first jazz concert ever at  Zion Baptist Church here in Brooklyn. The concert, entitled "A Blessing In The Blues", featured Sandi on Wayne Shorter's classic piece "Footprints". Sandi played excellently and captivated the audience.  In addition to performing with her at various venues i also had the pleasure of working with Sandi at PS 77, which is a school for autistic children in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. Sandy would often bring her flute to work and serenade the students. Her playing would reverberate throughout the school's hallways. It was very soothing and the children loved it! Whenever Sandi knew that we would be working or playing together she would  always promise to make some salmon cakes for the event, which she always did! That was Sandi O. A great lady, a fine flautist, a true patron of the arts, and, most of all, a very dear friend.