James Sands M.D.

James Sands MD, 87, beloved Husband and Father, passed away in his home on July 18, 2018. He will be remembered by his wife, children, grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. From an early age he was determined to become a doctor. He bused across town in Pittsburgh attending St. James Jesuit High School. He earned an undergraduate degree at Duquesne University, where he participated in the ROTC rifle team. He graduated from St. Louis University medical school. He worked his way through college by cooking for his Phi Rho Sigma medical society fraternity, maintaining their financial records and by working at St. Anthony's Hospital where he assisted in delivering babies. He interned at Mercy Hospital at Buffalo, NY. Due to his premature salt and pepper hair, his patients often looked to him rather than the supervising doctor on rounds. Once he proudly brought home a raccoon that he shot and expected his wife to cook. He served in the Army as a Captain at Fort Sill, OK and Fort Rucker, AL where he was assigned to be the Ear, Nose and Throat medical officer. He had his residency at Washington University at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis specializing in Ear, Nose and Throat. He did insurance physicals to support his family. He was always full of empathy, compassion and dignity; and had a good sense of humor. Moving to Albuquerque he practiced at Lovelace Clinic who would fly him out to Gallup and Grants to attend to the local clinics. Soon he opened his own practice. His patients were always a great part of his life and always came first. He served as the first president of ARCA and worked most of his life with the disabled. He served on the board of Catholic education for the Archdiocese and was on the board of the Catholic Foundation. He served as president of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association. He was on the board of the Rio Grande Valley Bank. He served on the medical legal panel of GAMA and also on Presbyterian and St. Joseph's hospital's medical committees. He mentored medical students from UNM. He was a member of the Elk's Club where his children swam competitively. He participated in two Boy Scout 50 mile hikes with his sons. He was proud that he had two boys who became Eagle scouts. An outdoor sportsman, he enjoyed bird hunting, bow and arrow hunting of deer and elk and fly fishing. From a shell he built an entire cabin. He passed the city's electrical exam to install his cabin's wiring. He enjoyed skidooing and cross-country skiing there. He belonged to a reading poetry group that met frequently. He enjoyed playing bridge, ballroom and country western dancing and tennis. After retiring, he loved to travel, particularly enjoying a Barefoot Windjammer Cruise. He enjoyed eating out with the ROMEOs, which stands for “Retired Old Men Eating Out”. He was a great cook, always whipping up new recipes. He loved to read action thrillers. He took great pride in leading a class of men and women entering the Catholic Church at Our Lady of Fatima under the guidance of Msgr. Eggert. He regularly participated in the Men of St. Joseph prayer group and was on the finance committee of his parish St. Joseph's on the Rio Grande. Special thanks to Dawn, Denise, Father Bill, and Msgr. Luna.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to St. Vincent de Paul.

The wake will be at FRENCH - Wyoming on Tuesday, July 24, 2018,  from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.  A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at St Joseph on the Rio Grande Church. Reception will follow at Clubhouse of Ladera Golf Course.  A private interment with military honors will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.