Letha Sandweiss

Letha Sandweiss, 80, of New Haven, died on Saturday morning after a long struggle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Born in Manilla, Iowa in 1932, Letha Ann Boeck was the oldest of the five children of Lila and Howard Boeck. After attending school in Denison IA, she went to the University of Iowa in Ames for two years before completing her degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. In 1956, Letha met and married Jack Sandweiss and then moved to New Haven. Letha and her family moved into Davenport College at Yale where Jack served as Master of the college from 1973 to 1976. She was a strong contributor to the life of the Davenport community and Yale in general. Letha was a member of the Yale University Women’s Organization, (YUWO) serving as President and later as Chair of the YUWO Study Group Lecture Series. For many years she was an active Unitarian, serving the Unitarian Society of New Haven as Director of Religious Education. Letha was also actively involved in many community organizations with leadership positions in the New Haven Garden Club, serving as President from 2003-2005, Edgerton Park Conservancy, North End Club, Recording for the Blind, the Books-Sandwiched-In program of the New Haven Public Library, League of Women Voters, and the International Center. In 1987, Letha founded the popular community event “Sunday in the Park” to benefit Edgerton Park and she functioned as a tireless leader of this wonderful event for many years. Letha was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed supporting music and the arts locally, hosting for many years the Wall Street Chamber Players concert series in her home. She is survived by her loving husband Jack, her children Daniel H. Sandweiss (MariCarmen) of Bangor, ME, Anne F. Riz (Thomas) of Bern, Switzerland and Benjamin L. Sandweiss (Christin) of Hamden, CT, her grandchildren Elena Riz, Bern Switzerland, Andrew Sandweiss, Bangor, ME, and Serena Sandweiss, Hamden, CT, her siblings Elizabeth Galbraith, Kay Duncan, David Boeck, and Jeffry Boeck, and her granddog, Ollie. Calling hours will be held at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden on Thursday, 5 – 8 pm and a celebration of Letha’s life will be held at the Unitarian Society of New Haven ,700 Hartford Turnpike ,Hamden on Friday,at 11:00am followed by a reception at the New Haven Lawn Club,193 Whitney Ave.,New Haven. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Edgerton Park Conservancy,PO Box 6163,Hamden,CT 06517. www.siskbrothers.com

Letha Sandweiss

August 16, 1932 - June 8, 2013