Residents from all corners of San Benito County recently said good-bye to Sandy Rose, a successful businesswoman and dedicated horsewoman. Sandra L. (Sans) Rose died Feb. 28 and the memorial was Friday, May 19.
Several hundred of her friends and admirers gathered at Bolado Park to commemorate the loss of an individual who knew her own mind and didn’t mind speaking it but was generous to others throughout her life.
Gary Byrne, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for San Benito County (CFFSBC) acted as emcee. Byrne said Rose contributed time and supported numerous community organizations such as the foundation, Hollister Rotary Club as well as the San Benito County Cattlewomen, Grand Jury, Business Council and Chamber of Commerce.
As a Community Foundation board member, Rose helped it achieve accreditation and took an advisory role with BenitoLink as it developed into a locally-produced website.
Somewhat like a huge family reunion, community members spoke about Rose’s qualities. “Don’t look for excuses, just get it done,” was the way Sonya Taylor described Rose’s attitude.
After retiring from the saddle, Rose took on two young riding students, Brett and Emery Pura, looking at it as a chance to pass her horse expertise on to another generation.
Eleven-year-old Brett stood before the crowd and tearfully shared that Rose and her husband, George Rose Jr., helped her find her first horse, “Buddy,” for a dollar and who, she said, “was worth more numbers than I can count.”
Brett’s sister, Emery, who is 12, then told everyone, “She taught me the basics of the stock horse, which I still use today. She tried to teach me equitation but that it didn’t go so well,” Emery said, referring lightly to not yet pulling off a perfect “horse show” appearance in the saddle.
Larry Barr of Pacific Scientific said he got to know Rose through Hollister Rotary Club. He warmly characterized Rose as a woman “with strong opinions who didn’t mince words.”
Speakers referred to Rose’s lifelong passion for fine horses and outstanding horsemanship. Others pointed out her love for the southern San Benito landscape where she grew up and others pointed out her role as a mentor.
Susan Modic, a member of the Community Foundation’s board of directors, served with Rose. Modic likened her to many “south county” women she had grown up around: “hard-working, smart, down-to-earth, no nonsense, the kind that were raised out-of-town on ranches and knew how to handle whatever was thrown their way.”
Rose, born Sandra L. Sans, was raised on the Sans Topo Ranch in the southern part of San Benito County. She attended Bitterwater-Tully School and graduated from San Benito High School.
Modic shared with Sandy Rose and her husband, George, a passion for a beautifully-trained stock horse. “George and Sandy understand the centuries-old process of training these elegant horses that react to the lightest touch of a rein, yet have the speed, courage and strength to control the rankest cow with precision and grace, like a ballet.”
The Roses were credited by Modic with helping to keep the Vaquero stock horse tradition alive. She explained the training method displays trust between horse and rider and harkens back to San Benito County’s early rancho history. George and Sandy’s daughter, Tammy continues to ride and carry-on that tradition.
Modic said that although Rose held strong opinions, she could also be open-minded. Rose and Modic were advisors for BenitoLink when it was a Community Foundation project.
“The lady I thought had a ‘no compromise hard tack’ embraced this concept of hearing from the stakeholders, even if they had a different opinion from hers,” Modic said. Rose was conservative politically and though doubtful at first, came to appreciate and support BenitoLink’s commitment to inviting a wide variety of perspectives. Ultimately, Rose “became Benitolink’s greatest advocate,” Modic told the crowd.
It was back in 1965 that John Winn of Winn Insurance hired Rose. Eventually, she became general manager. It was a time in San Benito County when there were very few professional level jobs available to women. Rose was grateful to Winn for the education in the insurance industry. She formed her own insurance agency, Sandy Rose Insurance Services, in 1990.
Rose was one of a small handful of women in San Benito County who paved the way for others to work in the business world. Another successful businesswoman, Marilyn Ferreira, told BenitoLink that back in the 1980s, she talked Rose into joining her in the then mostly male Hollister Rotary. “Sandy pioneered in the insurance business, competing for the first time with all the men,” Ferriera remembered. “We broke in into the business world at the same time.” It wasn’t until 2000 that Hollister Rotary asked Ferreira to represent the club as its first woman president.
A close friend, Jayme Stewart told BenitoLink that Rose was a great mentor to her throughout her career. Rose encouraged her to work hard, be fair and honest and strive to take leadership roles. “We worked really hard but we had a lot of fun too,” Stewart said.
Stewart said that when she first met her, Rose had it all: work ethic, an eye for business and a ton of personal style. “She’d come in with her hair up in this huge bun, dressed to the nines and she was the first successful businesswoman I knew. She was really something.” Today, Stewart is president of Calvista Insurance in Hollister.
After retiring from the insurance business, Rose became president of the San Benito Business Council and the Community Foundation for San Benito County board. She gave countless hours, had a sharp eye for numbers and the same dedication to the community organizations she joined.
Byrne ended the memorial with a reminder that the community needed to be thankful for all their years with Rose. Reading a poem, the message was to not turn inward but to count our blessings that Rose touched so many and be uplifted by knowing that her influence lives on.
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