Wood carver, teacher was ‘the textbook definition of resilient’
Deborah (Deb) Sandilands of Cambridge; Born: Jan. 30, 1950, in Cambridge; Died: Jan. 19, 2024, of cancer
If there was a common theme when speaking to Deb Sandilands’ many friends, it was about her kindness, her humour and ability to adjust to whatever life threw at her. And it threw a lot: a fractured family life, early retirement due to health issues, divorce, cancer.
“She was the textbook definition of resilient,” said Anne Forler. “The last couple of years (with cancer), she just kept going and always with a smile.”
“She had a great sense of humour and always saw the positive in life,” added Zenon Gawel, a friend and fellow carver at the Grand Valley Woodcarvers, where Deb made her mark as an accomplished bird carver.
“She was a real character,” he added, noting that they would often travel together around Ontario, entering competitions.
Sandilands was insistent on supporting all wood carvers and if there was a fundraising auction, she not only contributed items to sell, she’d also be the one upping the bids.
Needless to say, when she died on Jan. 19 from cancer, everyone tasked with cleaning out her Cambridge apartment was faced with rooms filled with art, carvings, art supplies, books and boxes and boxes of carving tools.
In a tribute to Sandilands, everything will be auctioned off at the Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship at RIM Park, Waterloo, on the May 30 weekend, with the proceeds used to support carving initiatives. There will also be an award named in her honour.
Sandilands was born Deborah Bowen on Jan. 30, 1950, in Cambridge. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Wilfrid Laurier University, graduating in 1973, followed by a teaching diploma from Stratford Teachers college. She’d spend her teaching career in Cambridge elementary schools.
Sandilands thrived in the classroom, her career perhaps making up for her lack of family relationships.
“She loved children,” said Cheryl Harnack, who spoke of the special relationship her friend had with students, particularly the challenging ones.
“She got sick about 20 years ago: that put a stop to her teaching,” said Harnack.
Artist Jill Summerhayes met Sandilands around that time and found a woman who had lost some of her self-esteem but then found her muse in a paint brush and carving knife.
“She compensated by getting involved in art,” said Summerhayes.
Woodcarvers president Mike Flynn said Sandilands worked hard on her craft, studying with professionals, entering and winning many competitions.
“When people love what they are doing, it shows,” said Flynn. “She took her time and made things right.”
She even took on the job as club president in 2015 for a two-year term.
Flynn spoke of her “gift of words,” how she regularly wrote poems for special events, usually about club members, sometimes a bit off-colour but always hilariously funny.
Doreen Scheif added that “she was very creative and had a flair for the dramatic. She could tell a story or a joke and keep everybody’s rapt attention. She could turn a comment into a song or write a poem to fit any occasion.”
Eager to create all the time, Sandilands joined the Wilmot Seniors Woodworking and Craft Shop in Baden, getting together with members every Tuesday morning to work on various projects. While Grand Valley Woodcarvers focused on bird carving, the Wilmot group was more freestyle. Sandilands was able to expand her repertoire.
Jan Hook noted that Deb had donated a number of items to the club’s annual Christmas fundraiser, and she purchased many of the items, particularly if something hadn’t sold. She didn’t want any artist to feel their work was not wanted.
Outside the workshop, Sandilands could often be found on the golf course.
“She was an avid golfer and even mobility issues hadn’t stopped her,” said fellow golfer Theresa Lynk. “She was a very strong person.”
For more than a decade, Sandilands organized seniors golf tournaments in Cambridge, and she played at the Grand Valley Golf Course a couple of times a week, particularly enjoying luncheons with her “golf gals,” said Lynk. Even when she was too ill to golf, she still came out for get-togethers.
“There was always lots of laughter and she had a song for everything,” said Lynk.
The last couple of years, Sandilands had been forced to slow down as the lung cancer metastasized and tore through her body. She was 73 when she died.
Flynn concluded “she had an incredible spirit, she never let sickness bring her down.”
There will be a celebration of life on April 7, 2:30 to 5 p.m., at Grand Valley Golf Course in Cambridge.