Sandra Hancock Martin

Sandra (nee Hancock), age 83 of Montvale, NJ, died after keeping multiple myeloma cancer at bay for two years. Sandra was the cherished wife of over sixty years of Dr. J. David Martin, dear sister to Linda Duffey and her husband Robert, beloved mother of Todd David Martin (Wendy), and Andrew Thomas Martin, devoted grandmother to Stuart, Olympia, Calder, Josie, Garnett, and Miles Martin.

Born in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of Alice Todd Hancock and Hugh Trenwith Hancock. Sandra grew up in Houston, Texas where she was graduated from Lamar High School. She Received a Bachelor's degree in Spanish from the College of William and Mary in Virginia after a year and a half at Baylor University, where her drama major freshman memoir is part of The Texas Collection, and a M.A.T. in Spanish from the University of Florida.

During the early 1970's Sandra was one of the founding members and early presidents of Northern New Jersey N.O.W. She wrote articles, gave sermons and speeches, and discussed women's issues on radio and television. She continued to be interested in women's issues throughout her life. Ramapo College of New Jersey has her collection of materials as well as a memoir of her involvement in N.O.W.

Sandra was an enthusiastic teacher and learner. Beyond her Master's she took 36 hours of graduate level courses in Spanish at Middlebury College, The University of Virginia and Montclair State as well as universities in Spain and Mexico on fellowships. She taught high school and middle school in Ramsey NJ for thirty years, and for three years in Florida before that. After retiring in 2003 she taught 46 and took 46 courses at Ramapo College for eighteen years. For ten years she taught art history once a week as a volunteer at the Bergen County Jail. For over ten years she taught biblical, Spanish, French and American art history to retired people at the BCC-ILR and NCJC. An active member of West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood since 1978, she also taught the confirmation class as well as helped organize the first of many church mission trips to Reynosa, Mexico, where she interpreted in a clinic. For this she drew on her experience of taking Ramsey High students on many trips to Spain, Mexico and England.

Sandra's family history and love of American history led her to become a member of the DAR as well as a docent/educator at the Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus, where she informed school and scout groups about the American Revolution and the Victorian era in dresses that she made herself to represent both time periods. She also loved to sew for and bake with her adored grandchildren and grandnieces.

David and Sandra traveled widely from 1988 to 2020 in Europe and Latin America. Taking Olympia and Josie to Encarni's wedding in Madrid was delightful as well as taking 5 grandkids to Disneyland. During January breaks they would alternate between Malaga, Spain and South America. Crossing the Andes from Chile to Argentina and exploring the Galapagos were two of their favorite adventures.

Sandra Martin kept a very clean house.

Visiting will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 2:00 – 5:00 PM at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 11:00 AM at Second Presbyterian Church, 5 North Fifth St., Richmond, VA 23219.  Parking for the Memorial Service is available in the parking deck adjacent to the church. A private interment will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond, VA.