Joan Mary Phillips-Sandy

WATERVILLE – Joan Mary Phillips-Sandy, 78, died at her home in Waterville on Aug. 12, 2024. She was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on Dec. 10, 1945, the only child of McKeever John Phillips and Mary Phillips. They raised her in New York City, where part of her heart always remains. After they died, she was lovingly raised by John and Rosanne Phillips, who gave her the precious gift of five siblings.

Joan attended St. Lawrence Academy in NYC and Elizabeth Seton School in Yonkers, where she received an excellent education from the Sisters of Charity of New York. Joan received her BA in political science from the University of Chicago, where she participated in civil rights and anti-war activities, and helped fundraise for the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project in 1964. Chicago is also where she met her future husband, Bob Sandy. In 1969, they were married in Garden City, New York.

Joan received her Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law, where she was a member of the first legal services clinical program for students. After graduation, she spent a year as a VISTA lawyer at the Boston Legal Assistance Project. In 1972, Joan and Bob opened their own law firm in Waterville, ME as Sandy & Sandy. It continues today as Sherman & Sandy. Joan was appointed the first woman assistant county attorney for Kennebec County by then county attorney Donald H. Marden. She later served as training officer for the Winslow Police Department and taught in the state and municipal police academies.

Joan was appointed to the first Board of Overseers of the Bar by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, and later served on their Grievance Commission for 11 years. She also served on the board of directors for Pine Tree Legal Assistance and spent a term as Chair; she also served on the board of the Family Violence Project.

For many years, Joan and her family showed horses with Laurie Nesbit under the name Skunk Alley Stables in Belgrade Lakes. In the 1980s, Joan and her friends Diane Bryan and Carol Mitchell started a weekend soup kitchen at Notre Dame Church in Waterville. Later, Joan was on the board of the entity that became the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter.

Having been raised around theater people, it was no surprise when Joan joined the board of the Waterville Opera House, and for several years she produced community theater for the Opera House and FP Productions with her dear friends Rick and Lisa Foster. With the founders of Railroad Square and Beth Eisen, Joan helped launch the Maine International Film Festival and served as its director for five years, later serving on the board of the Maine Film Center.

For 26 years, Joan proudly served as Ward 3 Representative for the Waterville School Board, most recently a term as the chair. She also served on finance, negotiations, policy, and curriculum committees. She enjoyed working with a wonderful group of colleagues and administrators, especially Superintendent of Schools Eric Haley. Joan was also the fearless goalie for the “Women’s International Floor Hockey Team” with a group of local friends.

For 30 years, Joan planted life-changing seeds of love and kindness in hundreds of children who were fortunate enough to know her as the Prayer Room Teacher. With her longtime friend Donna Russo, Mrs. Sandy spent 35 years facilitating weekly visits for kids to serve at the local soup kitchen.

Joan treasured nothing more than her time on Great Pond with her siblings and their children, beginning in the 1950s at the family camp, and continuing with the addition of her camp in the 70s. For many summers, the extended Phillips clan spent time back and forth between both camps.

Joan is survived by her husband, Robert Sandy of Waterville; her daughter Mary Phillips-Sandy and her husband, the best son-in-law in the world, Nick Poppy, and their son Julian, Joan’s beloved grandson of NYC, and her grand-kitty Grendel; and her son John Phillips-Sandy of Waterville and his dog Harper, who was Joan’s constant support throughout her illness.

She is survived by loving sisters and brothers-in-law, Madeline and Ed Blaufuss of Phoenix, Ariz., Maria and Charlie Bryan of Mariner Sands, Fla., Meg and Chris Phillips of Austin, Texas, Angela and Steve Cody of Lincroft, NJ; and their families’ beautiful children and grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved brother John Phillips of NYC and predeceased by his wife, a dear sister-in-law, Patricia Cresswell.

Joan is also survived by Louise Pulsifer Hogan, part of her life for most of it, as her “oldest daughter and youngest sister.” She is survived by sister-in-law Alison Schuler and her son Ted and family of Albuquerque, NM, and predeceased by brother-in-law Lyman Sandy and her wonderful parents-in-law Robert and Elizabeth Sandy.

Joan leaves behind her cherished godchildren, William Hogan of Brisbane, Australia, Emily Hogan of Boston, Mass., Nathan Rector of Waterville, Robert Teague of Portland, and Christopher Teague of Portland. She was admired and loved by countless children, young adults, and friends who will miss their wise advisor and steadfast ally.

Joan’s family thanks all the friends who provided companionship, care, and support throughout her illness, especially Sue Reid, Monica Charette, Donna Russo, Julia Vigue, Robin Shafer, Diane and Chris Bryan, Pam Trinward, Mary Rector, Kate Gawler, and Roy Bouchard. Thanks also to the extraordinary nursing teams at the Alfond Cancer Center and MaineGeneral Home Health & Hospice, and the crew at Delta Ambulance, especially Doug Hillman.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make gifts in Joan’s memory may direct donations to:

Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter

19 Colby St.

Waterville, ME 04901 or:

ShineOnCass Foundation

64 Heritage Rd.

Oakland, ME 04963 or at

shineoncass.org