Helen J. Sandlewick, 93 years young, of Homosassa, FL went to meet the greatest of all Chemists on November 7, 2017. She was born in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 1924, to the late Louis L. and Laura (Chapman) Jacquier. As a young girl, she always had her nose in a book, always trying to gain knowledge of those things around her that she questioned. This inquisitiveness would serve her well in years to come.
She was the first in her family to go to a University and obtain a degree. She went to American University, in Washington, D.C., getting her Associates Degree all while working at N.I.H. (National Institute of Health), in Bethesda, MD. This was her first job (April 1944), as she put it “a lowly lab tech” to Dr. James B. Longley, and working her way up to Research Scientist by 1960. She was one of the first women in her field. A pioneer of her time.
In 1960, she followed Dr. Longley to Georgetown University as his assistant in the Anatomy Department of Georgetown University Medical School. Helen continued her education while there, working on her Bachelors Degree, and raising two children.
In 1962, Helen left Georgetown University and moved her young family to Louisville, KY. She was Dr. Longley’s Head Research Assistant of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Louisville School of Medicine until 1969, when she retired at the age of 45. While at U of L, she earned her Bachelors Degree and was a few credits shy of earning her Masters.
Helen was very passionate about education, and believed that it was the key to a rich and productive life. When she didn’t have a book in her hands, you would find her playing cards with friends, doing word puzzles, bird watching – the Northern Cardinal/Redbird being her favorite bird, attending baseball games – the Washington Nationals/Senators and Atlanta Braves being her favorite teams, or collecting coins – another passion of hers. Upon her retirement from U of L, she joined two friends in a coin business. Helen married one of them, George H. Sandlewick, in 1971, and moved to New Albany, IN, to help him run his store filled with coins, stamps and antiques, and later selling it for profit.
In 1973, they moved to Homosassa, FL, retiring from city life and exchanging it for a more peaceful lifestyle. But the retirement pace wasn’t for Helen. She and her late husband, George, became members of the Crystal River Moose Lodge #2013, in 1986. She would help cook Friday Night Dinners, and dance the rest of the night away. As she put it, “We even jitterbugged at the Moose as a bunch of old folks!” Helen was involved in the Lady’s Ritual Team at the Moose, going to several National Ritual Competitions over the years. Also, she was a member of several coin and token societies: Florida Token Society, Southeast Token Society, and Civil War Token Society to name a few.
Helen was also a fighter. She petitioned for the surrounding wetlands, water canals, and river around her home in Homosassa to become a Bird Sanctuary and got it done! She fought cancer twice and won both times.
Helen will be remembered for her sense of humor, her cooking, and for encouraging others, especially young family members, to continue their education. She felt that you should always try to learn something new each day.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Collette B. Densford and Roy H. Burtner, III; 5 grandchildren: Laura Akers, Jon Burtner, Stephanie Burtner, Chris Burtner, and Jeannie Shirling-Green; 10 great grandchildren: Ashley, Nicholas, C.J., Norah, Lydia, Kelson, Jaxton, Lux, Kevin, and Rowan. Preceded Helen in death are her parents, Louis and Laura Jacquier; her adopted sister, Ruth “Marie” Swearer; and her husband, George H. Sandlewick (on July 26, 2002).
Private cremation arrangements are under the care of the Chas E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness, FL.
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