Alexander Stewart “Sandy” Lord died unexpectedly on January 30, 2022 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He will be missed.
Born in New York, New York March 8, 1949, Sandy, the son of Joan Malloch Lord and William Galey Lord II, was the eldest of four. Raised in Irvington, New York with summers in Waquoit, Massachusetts, he attended Hackley School, graduated from The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Sandy’s passion for nature, music, and sailing developed as a child and grew throughout his life. He discovered his love of performing while at Hotchkiss singing with the a cappella group The Blue Notes. Sailing with his father and family as a child on Waquoit Bay developed his love and respect for the water. He could often be seen sailing alone, or with his father or others on Waquoit Bay. In 1969 he sailed in the TransAtlantic Race from Newport, Rhode Island to Cork, Ireland – a highlight of his life. Taking his last plane trip ever, he returned to the States just in time to make it to Woodstock.
Life took Sandy from Irvington to North Carolina to Cape Cod, and finally to his home of the last 45 years in the Berkshires. Sandy Lord was devoted to his home on Mount Washington, which he shared with his wife Mary Beth, whom he lost in 2004. He worked diligently to try and save land through a land trust and by serving on the local Conservation Committee. He loved the community, volunteering his music at the annual Mount Washington Fair for many years.
An avid birder, Sandy was often seen wandering with his binoculars around his neck. Always watching, he had an extensive Life List and regularly contributed to the Christmas Bird Count. Sandy could be seen running on the mountain, or just standing talking to one of his many friends. He was the wild man of the mountain with his long hair, not cut since 1970, and a bushy mustache. He was truly just the person he wanted to be.
He worked as a carpenter, a caretaker, and a grip on the movie “Judge Dred.” He worked for years as a P.A. for his dear friend Glen. Sandy taught music at Hotchkiss and to numerous private students. For years he ran a stage at Center Fest in Great Barrington. A mainstay at The Lion’s Den, performing for over 20 years, he was one of its longest-running performers. Performing Monday evenings solo, with Madame Joy, and most recently as “Sandy and Sandy.”
His greatest love was playing music in nursing homes as “Sandy and Sandy.” He truly connected with the veterans, telling them about his father jumping into Normandy on D-Day, and was, in turn, delighted to hear their stories. This was true of everyone he met. To quote W.B. Yeats: “There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.”
Sandy was a wonderful man who deeply loved his friends, his mountain, the birds and animals, his wife Mary Beth, his family, and most of all his music. He will be missed by neighbors and friends far and wide who greatly loved their conversations with Sandy, his stories, poems, and music. As Sandy would say, “One love every time.”
Sandy is survived by his siblings, Sue Lord of McCormick, South Carolina, Pam Lord Camara of Kingston, New York, and Meg Lord of Parsonsfield, Maine, his niece and nephew Shea and Kai Lord-Farmer, and great-niece Mina, as well as numerous cousins, and his music partner and life friend Sandy Nunn.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy in care of the Birches-Roy Funeral Home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Condolences may be made through the Birches-Roy website.
