We have heard that Sandy Rotival passed away on the weekend. In December, Sandy moved back to Woodstock from France, two doors up the street on Route 197 near the intersection of 197 and 169. Becki and I were fortunate to see Sandy at the Vanilla Bean a week ago and meet his daughters, Valerie and Constance, who were with him this last weekend.
Sandy worked as a diplomat for the United Nations in exotic places like Belgian Congo, Switzerland and Communist Romania. Sandy retired in 1996, and he and his charming wife, Edith, moved to their home on the Hill next to Roseland Cottage. Edith passed away almost exactly a year ago while she and Sandy were living in France. In Woodstock, Sandy and Edith helped raise funding for the Audubon Society, the Performing Arts of Northeast Connecticut, Celebrating Agriculture, the Connecticut Farmland Trust and Working Lands Alliance.
We will miss them both. (Edith died April 28, 2011 Tavernay, France).
Thanks for the date, Beverly.
My wife and I had the pleasure of knowing Sandy and Edith, professionally and personally, for some time. They were both very friendly people. I always enjoyed meeting and talking with them when occassionally I would meet one of them out and about. When I first joined the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2005, Sandy was the first person to walk up to me, shake my hand, and welcome me. It was much appreciated. He had a keen and an interesting perspective on things and a personable way to discuss issues. Celebrating Agriculture owes a lot to Sandy’s initiative and involvement.
Jeff
This posting reflects my own personal opinion and does not represent any opinion or action of the Woodstock Planning and Zoning Commission.
Sandy and Edith were the first people we met when we moved to the Hill. They had the most fantastic parties and plenty of them. Sandy was a liberal thinker, consummate host and they both managed to have every group represented at their legendary parties.
Sandy is a direct descendant of Henry Bowen so would often stand for hours outside Roseland Cottage regaling visitors at the Craft Fair with stories of his life as a boy. He talked of his struggles through mandatory visits he was forced to make with Miss Constance and Miss Sylvia who were the last descendants of H.C. Bowen living in Roseland Cottage. He had to dress well and sit on the horsehair sofa during tea. One day he escaped in to the kitchen and put the household cat in to the lit stove. Cat survived; Sandy almost didn’t. Sandy grew up (partially) at Sunset Hill across the street and next to the WA in the large double house of brick and clapboard (the same house that H.C. Bowen grew up in only at that time (early 1800′s) it was an Inn.
Sandy made consistent deep bows to family, community, and history. An experienced diplomat, he worked tirelessly for the betterment of Woodstock always seeking common ground and understanding among all the various groups in town.
Sandy gave a stately, calm, open armed grace to all the locations he lived within but especially so in his home town and neighborhood.
A close friend of Sandy and Edith said “Truly though, he woke up every day missing Edith, and his kids and all who loved them take comfort that they are back together.”
This is understandable in knowing their devotion to each other. Edith was a vibrant woman.