From Teddy Burlingame
Jason Burlingame • May 27, 2025
My sister Sandy was one of a kind! She was 2 years older than me. As a child, I watched what she wore and how she brushed her hair, how she walked, and I tried to copy everything! She was always taking care of me – lots of pictures of us as children, babies almost, she has her arm around me, holding me close, protecting me. She loved her little sister so very much, and that never changed throughout 88 years.
Sandy always knew who she was. She was brave, she had courage. We grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, and back then, the 1950’s, as women we were told to do and be certain ways. But not my sister!! She went to San Francisco as a young woman and went to work. I believe it was at a bank. She began traveling then also. She lived in NY also when we were young, in the Village. What fun we had there!
As adults, Sandy and I never really lived in close proximity to one another, but we always stayed in touch and kept up with the doings of each other’s lives. I would visit her at different places in her life, different cities, different states, and no matter where it was, or for how long she would be there, she always created a loving home, a cozy atmosphere that said “welcome”. And her homes always smelled of delicious cooking. She was a great cook and always prepared a beautiful table, small or large. I have some of her recipes today.
And she always had dogs! I remember some of their names today, and the pain Sandy felt when it was time for one of them to go.
When her boys were born, I watched her grow into motherhood with a passion. She loved her boys so much. She loved her friends with a passion also – that’s just who she was.
I miss my sister – as we became old, we didn’t travel to see each other so much, but we always stayed in touch. By phone and email. I have a couple of her quilts that I treasure. I miss talking to her – some days I just want to pick up the phone and call. I will see her again, of that I am certain!
Sandy, thank you for being my sister!
Love always,
Teddy Burlingame
New Paragraph
I met Sandy about 7 years ago. People would ask how long we've known each other and we'd just say forever at the same time. That's how I would describe our friendship. From the very beginning I could tell it was one for a lifetime and it was sadly cut too short, may she rest in peace. Sandy was a wealth of knowledge for me. She was so well traveled and so very smart both intellectually and in life experiences. I spent a lot of time with her. We'd play scrabble and she showed me so many tricks of the game that I actually beat her a couple of times and I don't know who was prouder, her or me. But we always had a fun time. She taught me patience when it came to my husband who has dementia. One time when I was with her I was so mad at him that she sent me to bed in her apartment, and as you know, YOU DON'T ARGUE WITH SANDY. Her neighbors at her previous apartments would call me Sandys' Debbie. I will end my story with this, Sandy I miss you every single day and I have so much love and respect for you. Till I see you next.
I met this wonderful lady in 2012/2013. She was living at Riverplace Condominiums and my job took me there. Her and I just hit if off right from the get go. She was so brilliant and worldly but yet so down to earth. Yes, she spoke her mind but that is what I loved about her. We could sit and chat for hours. I always hated to leave because I loved talking with her. Before she moved to the Douglas and then to Lake Oswego, I always told her if I had a bigger house that I would want her with me. She loved her boys and she had a true Momma heart. I lost my Mom years ago and I always told her she was like a Mom to me. Most recently though, I did not get to visit with her as often and I am very heartbroken over that. But I know she knew how much I loved her! Rest in peace my special friend....It's not goodbye Sandy.....it's I'll see you later. All our love, Glenda and Gary
Sandy Burlingame (1937-2025) BY PAUL DE BARROS Earshot lost one of its earliest and most ardent collaborators on April 12, when writer, editor, and lifetime jazz lover Sandy Burlingame passed away in Portland. She was 88. Burlingame elected to die with dignity after chronic digestive issues turned terminal. Sandy was one feisty gal. When I first met her — at the old University District Jazz Alley, in 1985 — she inquired as to why no one had taken her up on her offer to help with our new venture, Earshot magazine. “I called you, remember?” she said, in a raspy, smoker’s voice. I invited her to the next meeting. By the end of the year, she was not only writing for Earshot she was also on the founding board of directors. Later, she became the editor, though disagreements ended that (she was feisty, remember?), and she started her own magazine, 5/4 , which ran from 1995-98. “I never would have started writing about jazz or published my photographs if it hadn’t been for Sandy,” said Steve Robinson. “She was very generous and encouraging.” In 1997, Sandy moved to Portland, where in 2003 she became editor in chief of Jeremy Wilson’s website, jazzstandards.com, an online resource for fans and musicians about the tunes musicians play. “I will miss Sandy,” said Wilson. “She was very knowledgeable and passionate about jazz. She had a strong personality, yes, but that was part of her charm.” Born and raised in Bartlesville, Okla., Burlingame graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she was “Miss OU” in 1957. She later earned an M.A. in English literature from the University of Rhode Island and lived in New York and New Jersey. In 1982, she came west, first to Orcas Island, where she produced a 1983 jazz festival featuring Bobby McFerrin, among others, then moved to Seattle in 1985. In addition to her work for Earshot, Sandy conducted interviews for the book, Jackson Street After Hours: The Roots of Jazz in Seattle , and edited two jazz instruction books, Jay Clayton’s Sing Your Own Story , and Randy Halberstadt’s Metaphors for the Musician. Burlingame loved to play word games and even sold a crossword puzzle to the New York Times in 1981. She also loved to cook for company. It was not unusual to run into Ralph Towner, Gary Peacock, Jerry Granelli, or her lifelong friend Jay Clayton, chatting in her Capitol Hill kitchen over hors d’oeuvres and drinks. “She was a broad,” recalled her son, Jason Burlingame, affectionately. “She liked to have a good time, you know? She was pretty fabulous that way.” Burlingame is survived by Jason, of New York, her son Ryan Webster, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and her sister, Teddy Burlingame, of Carbondale, Colorado. Her son Jordan preceded her in death in 2016. Remembrances may be sent to the Freedom From Religion Foundation, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, or Oregon Humane Society. Memories are welcome at the memorial web page, SandyBurlingame.com. Published with permission from Earshot Jazz
Your tribute to your mother says it all. She was a dynamic spirit. As I read your post, bits and pieces of conversations with her those years (the '80.s) ago, primarily at Westside, came to mind. She was the one who alerted me to the fact that tapes would soon be replaced by CD's. At the time I wondered if that could be true. Well, needless to say, I didn't have to wonder long. Within a few months CDs were the rage.
Sandy was a lot of fun -- when she wasn't being ornery. I always liked Sandy. We met when she and I were both on the Board of Directors for our condoinium association. Sandy always had a strong opinion about things. Although her opinion often conflicted with the prevailing viewpoint, that never seemed to bother her. I admired that. Sandy had a contagious laugh and a compelling smile. She showed her generous spirit with unfailing words of support for my often lackluster performance in our group games of "Wordle" and "Quordle". Bye Sandy. Rest in Peace. I will order a burger at John's in your honor.
One of my favorite memories of Sandy was on Orcas Island in the first house she rented. My husband Walt and I had just met her quite recently with our new friend Char McCain. We had been out for dinner and Sandy had us back to her house to have even more drinks! She put on the album from Chariots of Fire and cranked it to the max. We loved it and immediately loved her. She set such a high standard of living, with generosity, adventure and fun. At first I didn't feel worthy of her because she was so smart and so accomplished, but that feeling didn't last long because she was so supporitve and giving. I've never known anyone like her and already miss her tremendously. I have a pic of us sitting on the fountain by her condo in Portland. It features prominently now in my living room and I throw her a kiss on a regular basis. Love you forever my dear, Rave on!!
I first met Sandy in 1986 when Jason and my daughter Aliki were starting high school. In chatting She mentioned the word jazz and that was the beginning of a long, beautiful friendship. We traveled coast to coast from Washington, Oregon, Colorado and New York City going to jazz festivals and events in addition to many nights spent at Jazz Alley in Seattle, listening to jazz greats, most of whom she knew. And also including many trips to Port Townsend jazz festival. Sandy was the most intelligent, caring ,engaging , interesting and fun friend one could ever have, not only to me but to many others as well. Being her friend was a blessing . I miss her so much. Her spirit is always with me. MAY HER MEMORY BE ETERNAL! Sending love , Annette.
Sandy was my next door neighbor, and my very dear friend. Although she left Glen Wild Lake many years ago, we have kept in touch over the years. Each phone call ’seemed like only yesterday” as we reminisced about good times together, doing crossword puzzles , listening to the Eagles late in the evening with a glass of wine, tramping through the woods” gathering wild grapes, and then,… one of her most favorite things…. making wild grape jelly,( one year, over 80 jars of it). In addition to her beautiful quilts, macrame and needlepoint, Sandy joined me in taking some fun adult evening courses including candlemaking, jewelry making, sculpting, painting, auto mechanics (but that’s another story!). As well as being a diversely accomplished person, she was a kind, generous friend, and definitely was “one of a kind“, never afraid to speak her mind. She will be greatly missed. I send my deepest sympathy to Jason, Teddy, and family. Doris Fatzler
Sandy Burlingame and I became fast friends in the early 1990’s. We met at the Port Townsend Jazz Festival in 1992. She was an active member of the Seattle jazz community. Sax player and artistic director, Bud Shank, had hired my husband, bassist Red Mitchell to perform with pianist George Cables, a favorite and close friend of Sandy’s. When Red passed away in November, she, like many others, contacted me to express her condolences. She invited me to stay at her house if I was interested in coming to Seattle and she would show me around the jazz scene there. We connected right away as we were both smokers and loved hanging out in jazz clubs. When I started producing home concerts and booking musicians she was impressed and wanted to write about me in her excellent magazine called 5/4 Magazine. Our sons were about the same age and we discovered many other things that we had in common. Sandy loved to play scrabble and cook. Later on, when she decided to move to Portland in 1997, we played at least twice a week trading places for dinner or going to Stanford’s Bar at Riverplace where they let us sit for a couple of hours at a time. Sandy was upfront and honest about her feelings and opinions. Most of the time we shared similar views and it was great to be able to discuss topics with someone whose opinion you trusted. I learned so much from Sandy about jazz and I know she enjoyed hearing about my adventures in the jazz world with Red. Her work editing the website, www.jazzstandards.com was often a subject we discussed. She wrote 300 summaries of jazz composers. The site is a treasure for singers, musicians and fans interested in knowing more about the history of their favorite songs. Mel Torme was Sandy’s favorite singer especially his album called Mel Torme Sings Fred Astaire. We always laughed about what album we would want if we were deserted on an island. This was her choice. But of course we both loved listening to all the great singers in jazz. Going to clubs to hear Nancy King, Rebecca Kilgore, Jay Clayton, Greta Metassa, and Ernestine Andersen will always remain in my memory of special times. One other favorite was a singer named Andy Bey who had a comeback in the late 80s. I met him several times in Europe when he worked with Red. Sandy was not sentimental but she had a deep emotional connection with the people she cared most about and they were many. When I was sick last year she sent me a letter. She wrote, “If there is anything I can do for you now when you are not feeling well, please tell me…. I want to do anything in my limited capacity, to help you out and make you feel better and certainly loved.” In December last year she moved to the senior housing center where Maynard and I are now residing. It was great having meals together and to know she was close by. While she was in hospice care I would go in to see her at least twice a day. We chatted briefly each time and it felt good just to say I love you before I left. Rest in peace Sandy. I’ll miss you always.