Sandi Carter, a longtime resident of Laguna Beach, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 25, 2014, following a recurrence of breast cancer. She was 69 years old.
Sandi was born on Oct. 24, 1944, in Los Angeles, to Darrell and Doris Bogardus. She grew up in Los Angeles, graduating Immaculate Heart High School and enrolling at UC Santa Barbara, where she was active in the Delta Gamma sorority. She graduated UCSB and moved to San Francisco to pursue a career as a teacher. In San Francisco she met David Carter, to whom she was married from 1969 to 1984 and with whom she had four children: Mike Carter (Kelly Carter), Laguna Beach; Kendra LaSalle (Michael LaSalle), Pacific Palisades; Chris Carter, Echo Park; and Lindsey Holtaway (Spencer Holtaway), San Francisco. She earned a master’s in education from the University of California, Los Angeles before moving to Oahu, Hawaii, and then to Laguna Beach. In her later years she divided her time between Laguna and the Rocky Mountains of Vail, Colo.
Carter spent over 40 years in Laguna Beach, teaching in the area school districts, providing private tutoring to local children, and running the L.E.A.R.N. Summer Fun School program. She completed certificates in fitness and nutrition from UC Irvine, coaching Laguna Beach High School’s cross country team.
A true athlete and competitor, Carter loved being active in the great outdoors. Whether playing tennis, skiing, swimming, biking, hiking, backpacking, tap dancing, meditating, or running, Carter always pushed herself to the limit and found so much joy in moving her body. In 2013 she won the Senior Olympics in women’s doubles tennis, one of her proudest accomplishments.
In 1991 she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, which would eventually lead to her involvement in the newly established Orange County Race for the Cure and to some of her most important life’s work, joining the OC Komen Foundation’s Speakers’ Bureau to speak about her experience with the disease, and raise awareness and funds for breast cancer prevention, education, research, and treatment. She ran the race faithfully every year, joined by family and friends, winning the Survivors’ Division for seven straight years.
Carter touched many lives with her vibrant energy and positive attitude. She will remain a cherished daughter, sister, mom, friend, Moonga (grandma), teacher, hero, and best friend. She loved adventure, new experiences, travel, and good company. She lived by the motto, “Just Do It.”
Carter always said that her proudest accomplishments were her four children. She is survived by her parents; her sister Sue Barkley, of Bailey, Colo.; her four children; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service for Carter will be held in Laguna Beach at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, at St. Catherine’s of Siena Catholic church, with a reception immediately following at her home.
All are welcome to celebrate her life. Additional services will be held later in Colorado. (Please contact the family for details.)
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in Carter’s memory to the OC Komen Foundation (www.komenoc.org) and Shaw Regional Cancer Center (www.shawcancercenter.com).
