Waltham's Dave Sandison Passes Away: 'He literally knew everybody'

WALTHAM, MA — Each year Dave Sandison would throw a big birthday party - for himself at the First Parish in Waltham's main hall.

"He didn't have a big ego. It was like he had no ego at all. But it was like he figured he deserved a birthday party and would have one and invite everybody," said Rev. Marc Fredette, the leader of the church Sandison belonged to.

And each year everyone would come. Including the mayor who would make a proclamation on the day for him. Fredette said at Sandison's most recent birthday - his 65th, he danced with Mayor Jeannette McCarthy and was pretty proud of it.

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When Fredette says that Sandison knew everyone, he means it. Beyond First Parish in Waltham, Sandison was on a first-name basis with many a city official. He would call the mayor from time to time to offer up advice, he knew most of the police officers and was known to ride shotgun with them while they were on the job from time to time. And once, when Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian couldn't make it to a birthday party, he came early met the Fredette to give him a special citation for Sandison so that he had it for his special day.

"He was really an inspiration. I'm not sure what his disability was, but he was a strong advocate for people with disabilities and he taught us all how to advocate. He was kind of like a professional advocate. Whatever he thought needed being done, he would work to get it done," said Fredette. "He was quite a guy."

He was a "super volunteer" with the Waltham Arts Council. "He didn't miss a Concert on the Common in decades," the council posted to its Facebook page Tuesday evening.

Born in 1952, Sandison leaves behind a brother and sister in law, niece and nephew. He was extremely independent and lived on his own although he could have lived with his brother he chose not to, because that would have taken him out of Waltham where he was born and raised. But he was also close with his family who said they admired him for his curiosity, humor and kindness.

"He said hello to everyone that he walks by and he wanted to find out everything about that person. He really was one of a kind, a genuine soul," said his nephew.

And the people of Waltham would go out of their way for Dave. He had a love for the police department, and would often listen to his police scanner and would visit the station regularly.

"Dave Sandison was a familiar face at the WPD. In many ways, he felt like an honorary member," the Waltham Police Department posted on Twitter Tuesday night. "He had an infectious laugh and always brought a smile to our faces whenever he dropped by. Dave, you were one of a kind buddy!"

If he was an honorary member of the police department, he also held an honorary post with the city council, where everyone there knew him.

City Council President Diane LeBlanc met him more than 40 years ago when they both had CB radios.

"David was the Council Sergeant at Arms. He was everywhere in the community and always engaged. He did not hesitate to call me if he thought there was something I needed to know. He would come to council on occasion and would always be recognized by the Dean of the Council. He will be missed," LeBlanc told Patch in an email.

He was a natural organizer and connector. And he was persistent. Friends admit he could also be a handful with that persistence.

"If you lived in Waltham for a long time you've probably heard of him," said Dmitry Zarkh who often cooked for Sandison's fundraising events or birthday parties. David had recently requested Zarkh's lasagna for his next birthday party - a party that was some four months away.

His birthday parties in recent years were fundraising events for the Waltham Community Day Center, where Sandison was a client. He had about an eighth grade education and could read and write a bit, but Zarkh said Dave had a photographic memory and a knack for languages. He had learned French and enough phrases in Russian and Chinese to be impressive.

"Whenever we went out to eat at the Chinese restaurant he would try to converse with waiter in Chinese," said Zarkh. "Sometimes successfully and sometimes not. But he was always eager to learn new phrases."

He was known to love iced Dunkin Donuts coffee with six Spenda packets added. He was a sports fan and he was involved in local politics and would encourage people to put campaign signs up and to vote.

Walking with David or driving him through the city was a slow moving event most of the time, because he would want to roll down the window and stop and talk to the many people he recognized along the way.

"He was certainly an interesting person and left quite a mark on the city over his long life," Zarkh. "David was gregarious, outgoing, extroverted, very friendly and eager to make connections."

Sandison was on dialysis for a long time, according to friends, and made funeral arrangements a couple years ago.

First Parish is working to host a memorial service, though the details of that are not yet finalized. Also because Sandison had been planning to participate in the Walk 'N' Roll for Joni and Friends at the end of the month and had been looking for sponsors for that, the church is considering taking up a collection to donate to the fund in his honor. In 2016 he was awarded Shining Star by the Edinburg Center in relation to the Development Disabilities Clinical Team.

Do you have a story about Dave? Email them to Jenna.Fisher@patch.com

Photo of Dave Sandison at a UU retreat in 2015 courtesy Martha Creedon.