Senior center’s ‘guiding light’ Sandy Pinkerton dies of cancer

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- As a tribute to a beloved and longtime supporter,

Costa Mesa Senior Center’s patrons have been inspired to boost their

fund-raising efforts this year.

Sandy Pinkerton, the honorary chairwoman for the center’s annual

campaign, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. She was 75.

Pinkerton, a former president and advocate of the Costa Mesa Senior

Center Corp., was appointed as the honorary chairwoman of the annual

fund-raising campaign. News of her death hit the center Thursday, leaving

friends and colleagues shocked, but not discouraged.

“This makes our desire and drive even more,” said Saundra Abbott, who

works in resource development at the center. “She has certainly been an

inspiration to all of us. I called her a guiding light here at the

center. She reminded me of the little engine that could.”

Pinkerton has battled cancer for 24 years, but she continued to remain

active not only at the center but in other civic activities as well.

“She loved the city of Costa Mesa and she would do anything for it,”

said Pinkerton’s daughter Jane Carlyle. “Even when she was undergoing

chemotherapy she would attend all her meetings.”

Pinkerton was known for her vivacious and upbeat personality. She was

also a hard person to say “No” to, friends said.

Most recently, Pinkerton persuaded Orange County Tax Collector and

Treasurer John Moorlach to take on the role of active chairman of the

senior center’s fund-raising campaign.

Moorlach, who had known Pinkerton for years and called her a “vibrant”

force in the community, said he always enjoyed working with her.

“She had refined the fine art of arm twisting to an art form,”

Moorlach said fondly.

Jerry Richards, a board member at the senior center, served on various

committees with Pinkerton for 25 years. Richards called her the

conscience of the organization, a “Mrs. Costa Mesa” type who exemplified

grace and productivity.

“She was a real princess of a lady,” Richards said.

In addition to her work at the senior center, Pinkerton was appointed

to the city’s Parks, Recreational Facilities and Parkways Commission,

where she served since March 1997. She also was previously appointed to

work on the city’s Redevelopment and Residential Rehabilitation

Committee.

Pinkerton accomplishments also include: organizing the first Girl

Scout Troop at TeWinkle Middle School; serving as a member and president

of the Mesa del Mar Homeowner’s Assn.; and serving in the Costa Mesa

Republican Women Federated Club.

In 1993, Pinkerton was nominated for Woman of the Year by the 37th

Senate District and was named first runner-up. In 1996, Pinkerton was

honored as the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of the Year.

“It would have been hard to be involved in something in Costa Mesa and

not come across Sandy,” said City Manager Allan Roeder, who also

remembered Pinkerton’s perpetually upbeat attitude, which usually came

accompanied by warm, smiles and hugs.

Up until a month ago, Pinkerton was attending Senior Center and Parks

Commission meetings. She also played tennis regularly, which was a legacy

left over from her athletic days -- she was a figure skater and qualified

to compete in the 1932 Olympics as a freestyle swimmer, Carlyle said.

A memorial is planned early this month at the Costa Mesa Senior

Center. In addition to Carlyle, Pinkerton is survived by her husband

Ralph; son Scott; daughters Pam McGeary and Deborah Hewitt; four

grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.