Obituary
Sandra Snow, RN, Tower 7C
Brigham and Women’s Hospital mourned the loss of Sandra J. Snow, RN, of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, who died Oct. 22 following a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer.
Her colleagues recalled her spontaneous sense of humor, wide range of personal pursuits and her commitment to providing patients with compassionate care. “Sandy was a nurse’s nurse. If you were sick, you’d want Sandy taking care of you because she’d keep you looking your best,” Beth Pond, RN, Tower 7C, said.
It was not unusual for Ms. Snow to look through a patient’s pocketbook to find lipstick or a hairbrush. “She always wanted her patients looking their best no matter how sick they were,” Marie Casey, RN, Tower 7C, said.
Ms. Snow studied to be a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital before joining the staff at the former Bartlett Unit in the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in 1979. She moved into the Tower when it opened in 1980 and worked in all four Tower 7 pods during her career.
She was a valued mentor and teacher of residents and preceptor for newly licensed nurses, and her expertise in critical care nursing practice was extraordinary. “She was a great mentor for new staff,” said Karyl Davenport, Tower 7CD nurse manager.
On her pod, Ms. Snow was well known for her love of ballroom dancing, especially when she taught a young resident to dance in advance of his wedding. She loved music, gardening, photography and skiing. She loved Vermont and enjoyed frequent weekend getaways to the family home.
In 1999, Ms. Snow earned a nurse practitioner’s degree after completing a combined bachelor and master’s program at Northeastern University. In addition, she had learned to speak Spanish, German and, most recently, Russian.
Ms. Snow, who was born in Danvers and lived in Arlington, is survived by a sister, Susan Blackenship of Carlisle, and a brother, William Snow of Oregon. Donations in her name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, 01701, or the American Lung Association, 460 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, 02451.