Passed Away On: 2017-12-27 00:00:00
Margarita Garcia Sandoval passed away at her Hollister home at the age of 72. She was born in Big Spring, TX on July 13,1945
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, Jan. 5 at 2:00 p.m. at the Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home.
Jovenes de Antano’s Executive Director, Pauline Valdivia reflected upon a proverb “Spoil not an act of kindness by speaking of it.” as she was remembering her dedicated employee, her remarkable volunteer, but, most importantly, her loving friend, Margaret Sandoval.
“We’d be discussing her schedule and Margaret would say I’ll be out of town on Wednesday – never I’ll be out of town on Wednesday, and, be doing volunteer intake for food or be handing out food and necessities to clients. You had to ask Margaret for details or the answer from someone so humble was that she was just going to be away. I wonder if Margaret ever truly appreciated the influence she had on the legions of people she helped.”
Helping was important-giving was important, but, it was the degree of heartfelt compassion and caring that continually distinguished Margaret, over her lifetime.
She wanted to make certain that people were taken care of and Margaret’s definition of care was to be there to meet those basic needs we all share: food, clothing, housing, transportation and medical attention.
Margaret’s leadership skills were well known throughout her professional life which encompassed her many years with Jovenes de Antano Senior Services and positions held at Food and Nutrition Services/Santa Cruz, the Second Harvest Food Bank/ Santa Cruz, and, Peninsula Family Service/Senior Community Service Employment Program, among others.
It was during times of tremendous need that Margaret’s creativity, coupled with her faith and wisdom abounded. The Loma Prieta Earthquake, in 1989, ushered in her Red Cross affiliation, then a membership on the Disaster Team, building up resources, advocating for clients throughout San Benito County, and, daily distributing food out of one of the meeting rooms at the Sunnyslope Christian Center.
The need for sound medical and dental care-for all was so important to Margaret Sandoval, who was elected to the Board of Directors of the San Benito Health Foundation, for over ten years, and, would become its Board President for numerous terms.
Before Marketing, it was Outreach and it would be always be Outreach for all of Margaret’s life. Outrearch was more personal and that suited Margaret just fine. She incorporated this belief into the Second Harvest Food Bank – where she volunteered in the food distribution program in Watsonville and various other sites, the Guadalupańa Society – with profound devotion to our Lady of Guadalupe, and, thru that devotion supporting needs within the Catholic Community and those addressed within the County, and Catholic Charities/Immigration rights, where she assisted in filling out critical paperwork. At another time, one could see her educating the public as to the necessity of the Grand Jury – a body on which she proudly served.
Margaret was the Advocate, the Community model, the wife, the mother, the grandmother. And, she knew how to have fun – whether it was a holiday event, a family reunion, a party, or a son’s clam chowder cookoff, she was there and in the sharing of her activities, one delighted in the sense that they had actually been there too.
She loved celebrating her Hispanic culture with such pride, always wearing brightly colored embroidered costumes, as the melodious Mariachi Bands entertained in the dining room, of the Hollister Senior Center.
Margaret’s just “out of town” and we love her and miss her terribly, but we will honor her memory by remembering all the times she “was in town” or in all the “other towns” just being Margaret.
Margaret is survived by her, Loving husband, Jesus; her Devoted sons, Ygnacio, Jesus, Salome, and, numerous grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Maria,(Mia) whom she adored.
In lieu of flowers, Margaret’s family has requested that a donation be made to Jovenes de Antano Senior Services, to assist in assuring that the programs and services she loved so dearly continue.
Donations may be sent to: Jovenes de Antano Senior Services P.O Box 860 Hollister, California 95024
This obituary was provided by:
Joan Sattler