Emeritus Professor Virginia Sand

Emeritus Professor Virginia Sand, a much loved and well respected geologist, educator, mother and grandmother, died late Tuesday evening, February 13, 2007 following a brief illness. Born at Evanston, Indiana, on November 23, 1928, she was a daughter of the late James Kenneth Murphy and Gladys Becker Murphy. Following graduation from high school, Ginny completed her undergraduate studies from Northwestern University in May, 1950, as the first female in the school’s history to graduate with a Geology degree. While at Northwestern, she was a member of the Gamma-Phi-Beta Sorority. Also in May, 1950 Ginny married Martin B. Sand. The couple met while attending a wedding for mutual friends. Together they would relocate to Canton, Ohio, where the late Mr. Sand sold Studebakers. A few years later, Ginny and Martin relocated to New Philadelphia where they opened the Mart Sand Pontiac Dealership. Ginny kept busy, rearing three daughters, giving Spanish lessons from her home, and fostering an environment for her daughters to learn, grow and become independent thinkers. During the latter part of the 1960’s, Ginny enrolled at the main campus of Kent State University where she earned her Master of Arts degree in teaching earth science. For the next three decades, she introduced, fascinated and challenged students in the study of geology at the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University. In 1993, she was named Professor Emeritus of Geology, teaching at the university until 1997. During this time, Ginny encouraged her students to reach beyond their usual environment, offering extra credit for students willing to travel out of the region to expand their horizons. She was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1975, and the Most Popular Professor Award in 1977, and was a top nominee for both awards for many years. Very dedicated to her discipline, Ginny was a longtime member of the Association of Women Geoscientists, and served as editor of the association newsletter from 1988 until 1991. She was instrumental in the collection and erection of the fossil display in the Wilderness Center at Wilmot where she also served as docent of geological science. Dedicated to expanding the opportunity for all to enjoy the outdoors, she was heavily involved in the Buckeye Trail Association, both as a board member, and as a trailblazer. Always adventurous, Ginny has traveled the world, even visiting Antarctica at the age of 77! Ginny has especially enjoyed visiting the Galapagos Islands, has visited to Turkey with Molly Doughten, toured Iceland, Japan and China, and enjoyed river tours of the Alsacian region of Germany and France. Most of all, Ginny enjoyed the dessert southwestern region of the United States, especially the Grand Canyon. Ginny has challenged the rapids of the Colorado River on nine occasions, and anticipated a trip there with her family in July. Ginny was a fifty year member of the First United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia, and presently served on the Staff-Parish Relations committee. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women, the Nature Conservancy, and Mensa, an invitational group roundtable where membership includes only the most intelligent and gifted thinkers in the world.Ginny touched countless lives through her service as a Geologist, educator and traveler. Her greatest impact was upon her three daughters, Chris Sand-Ashley and her husband Paul Ashley of New Philadelphia, Wendy Eckel and her husband Jeffrey Eckel of Annapolis, Maryland, and Stacy Sand of Madison, New Hampshire. She will be sadly missed by her four grandchildren, all of whom called her “GI” Â? they include Joshua Pringle of San Francisco, California, Seth Pringle and his wife Tara, of Los Angeles, California, Elizabeth Eckel of the College of Wooster, at Wooster, Ohio, and Madeline Eckel of Annapolis, Maryland. Three step-grandchildren, Danielle Ashley and husband Micheal Thomas, Alicia Ashley and Paul Ashley, all of Canton, and five step-great-grandchildren, Quintin, Bailey, Aidan, and Abagail Thomas, and McKenna Ashley complete the family. In addition to her parents and husband, Ginny was preceded in death by her sister, Phyllis Brannigan. The Sand family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 1-3 PM in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia, where the Rev. Dr. Steven R. Bailey will lead a celebration of Ginny’s life at 3PM. Those unable to attend are invited to share memories and condolences with the family by visiting the funeral home’s website. Ginny’s family will proceed with their trip to the Grand Canyon in July, where they will return the earthly elements of Ginny to be with those she so dearly appreciated. Instead of flowers, the family encourages contributions to one of three charities so that her legacy of learning, and care for nature will continue; First United Methodist Church, 201 West High Avenue, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 44663, The Wilderness Center, PO Box 202, Wilmot, Ohio, 44689-0202, or to the Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA, 22203.Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. ###