Alexandra "Sandy" Switaj

On June 1, 2024, Alexandra (Sandy) Durkee Switaj left this earth and it is a forever less interesting place.  Sandy was born on February 12, 1939 in Salem, MA.  She had an active youth spent in boarding schools and summer camp followed up by attendance at Bennett College.  It was during those years that she made her life-long friends, Judy, Barbara and Lynn, and they remained in each other’s spheres throughout all their lives.  After Bennett, Sandy embarked on her first and most important career, motherhood.  She and her first husband, Benjamin Holt Ticknor III, had four daughters over ten years.  She was a fierce and fun mother, erratic and loving, demanding and accepting.  She adored her daughters and wanted the world for them.  She encouraged them to express and be themselves, values that she fully modeled in her life. While Sandy loved the joys of motherhood, this was also a time when the role of women was changing and women were given the opportunity to voice their needs and look outside of marriage and motherhood for satisfaction.  Sandy felt those same yearnings finding her voice through her visual aesthetic.  She expressed her creativity and unique perspective in the design of her homes, gardens and her personal styling.  She created beauty as a way of life. Those of you who ever spent time in her homes know that her style was one of comfort, charm and the unique juxtaposition of objects found at yard sales, flea markets, junk shops and sometimes on the street.  Her motto was more is never too much; any tabletop that seemed impossibly full could always be made more appealing with the placement of just one more treasure found in the back of a store and she was always right.  She also brought her creativity to her gardens which bloomed with both garden tchotchkes and lovingly placed flowers.  Sandy applied her talents to the rambling farmhouse in New York, the formal Victorian in Maine and to the multi-story flophouse she renovated in New Haven, CT.  It was in New Haven, that Sandy embarked on her second career, Film Editor, with her second husband, Dennis Switaj.  Dennis was to remain her companion for the remainder of her life and they shared both a love of the aesthetic and a joy in creation.  It started with film making together and extended to their home and garden in Baltimore, MD where they spent most of the last 30 years of their life.  This house was populated by the pets that Sandy collected over time applying her same philosophy of abundance to the animals she cared for.  Why have one long-haired chihuahua when three are so pleasing.  One rescued cat ultimately needs a companion and birds are beautiful and fun!  It was also during this time that Sandy began her third and final career as a Realtor.  She seemingly knew every house and every person in Fell’s Point.  Walking down the street with Sandy took time since she stopped and had conversations with everyone.  She had an energy and charm that attracted people.  At that same time, she did not shy away from judgement and her critical honesty could shock and surprise.  Never afraid of burning bridges, she told you what she thought.  But she was so much fun, you happily sat with her enjoying your scorched sensibilities.  Her last years were spent in a lovely home in Kennett Square on her daughter, Amanda’s property. This house and its land were transformed as well.  But even beauty and energy have an end and after 40 years of studiously avoiding the medical world and staying remarkably healthy, she faced an end, both dramatic and short.

While loving Sandy was not for the faint of heart, many did and she will be incredibly missed especially by her loving husband, Dennis, her four daughters, Lisa (Michael), Amanda (Andrew), Tracey (Matthew) and Beula (James) and her grandchildren, Jane, Audrey, Josh, Will, Lauren and Ben.  She is also survived and remembered by many nieces, nephews and loving friends.  She is predeceased by her parents, Audrey Harrison and Earl Durkee, her brother Peter, her adored grandchild, Katie Grace and her nephew, Carl.  Memorializing Sandy is easy…take a moment and live like her.  Lift that glass, eat that forbidden food or dessert, buy that piece of art or tantalizing object that you have been admiring, get that outfit you are not sure you have a place to wear, remember every table needs an adornment, every charm bracelet an extra charm, every garden just one more small statue.  And as you do so, think of and honor Sandy…she would love it!

Per Sandy's wishes, services will be private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her name to a charity of your choice.

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