Susan Sandler was the first client I met that said she runs her family foundation. Though she came from a wealthy, philanthropic family, she wasn’t the kind of person who squandered her time or fortune. Susan cared deeply about inequality and made it her life’s work to fight for Black Americans and racial justice by identifying and empowering real change makers. She had a sense of urgency and realized that she had the opportunity to make a great impact on this country’s problems - the issues of racial, economic, and social justice. She acted as if she was just doing her work, but really she was furthering her family’s legacy: a preserved value called the “Sandler Way.”
“My parents attributed their success to a methodological approach marked by analytical rigor, extensive due diligence, and adherence to the highest standards of excellence.”
This is the Sandler way and she applied this methodology to the Sandler Phillips Center.
Sadly her life was cut too short when she was diagnosed with brain cancer and died at age 58. Susan is the first of my core clientele to pass away, and it was hard. The saying “stars that shine twice as bright burn twice as fast” always comes to mind when it comes to her. It was an honor to be able to be part of her journey, though due to COVID, an abundance of caution kept me from being able to care for her hair towards the end. I knew she was dying, but I didn’t know when she would pass. So I would check for her obituary every couple months and then one day I saw it. I am grateful that her memorial took place a year later and it was an honor to be there. It was such a release of all this emotion for me. Someone at the memorial brought up Susan’s sense of style and her hair, and I felt moved to share my experience with her. It was a beautiful day to have a remembrance of such a beautiful mind.
This experience has taught me that I am a hairdresser that is not only there for my clients in celebration, but also for those struggling with life threatening diseases, and those who are dying. I see it as a part of my job and I'm honored I get to be part of the caring team to help my clients feel their best at all stages of life.
Sending out much admiration to Susan and her family for their work.