Donald G. Sandstrom

After 91 years, artist, educator and craftsman, Donald G. Sandstrom of Savannah, GA passed quietly at home on May 1, 2022. He and his wife, Marion had relocated to the south after spending 30 years in Newry, ME.

Don was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 5, 1931 to Evelyn Carlson and Olav Sandstrom. He grew up in Iowa, Chicago and Rockford, IL. He attended Northwestern University, but transferred and graduated from Willamette University in Oregon with a degree in philosophy in 1954. He enlisted in the Army in the fall of 1954 and was stationed in Panama. He married Augusta Krause of Portland, Oregon and she joined him in Panama. Their first son, Jeffrey, now of Tucson, AZ was born there. After the Army, Don attended Philadelphia College of Art and received his BFA in Sculpture in 1963. He and Augusta has their second son, Anders in Philadelphia. Don taught at PCA in 1965 but eventually took a position at Indiana University in 1966. He taught a year with Temple University Tyler School of Art in Rome. He joined the faculty of Tyler and was chairman of Sculpture. He married Arla Patch and had his third son, Per.

Don’s sculpture always reflected his love of the land and open spaces especially in the Midwest. His painted hardware cloth pieces were magical and well received. He exhibited at Terry Dintenfass Gallery, the Whitney Museum in New York City and many others. His work was reviewed in Time Magazine, Art Forum, the New York Times and others.

Don and Arla moved to Newry, ME in 1985. They enjoyed Maine in separate ways. He began designing and building furniture. Raising Per was the focus of his life.

He married Marion Durgin in 1994. After she retired, they bought an RV and explored the country. They visited Savannah several times and he decided that would be home. Savannah had plenty of birds and butterflies to enjoy and photograph.

Don was predeceased by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Marion; his sons, Jeffrey of Tucson, AZ, Anders (Nina Ardery) of Indianapolis, IN and Per (Sara Miller) of Havertown, PA; grandchildren, Kai, Soren and Elvin of Indianapolis and Anders of Havertown, PA; sister, Marilyn Oborn (Dan) of Temple, AZ and their daughters, Lynell Perna (Chris) and Karen Westrik (David). Also, Marion’s daughter, Elizabeth Durgin and her son, C. Michael Grinnell of Columbia, SC.

The family is very grateful for wonderful help from Amedisys Hospice, nurse Lisa and home health aide, Tina and Home Instead.