Sandra Haber

Niskayuna, New York

Sandra (Sandy) Haber, 76, of Niskayuna, NY and Hague NY, died on April 29, 2022 in her home after a long illness.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Dr. Harold (Hal) Haber, daughter Alexandra Bar-Cohen (Barak Bar-Cohen) of Princeton, NJ, Marc Haber (Kate Haber) of Longmeadow, MA, and her grandchildren, Gabriel, Gefen, and Luna Bar-Cohen, Murphy, Rowan, Dylan, and Maeve Haber, sister-in-law Gylvia Hensler, brother David Bracher, and sister Patricia Morris, dogs Frankie, Tonks, and Brooklyn.

Sandy was predeceased by her grandmother, Charlotte Bastin, her mother Helen (Gerry) Bracher, stepfather George Bracher, and brother Michael Hensler. 

Sandy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a hardworking mother.
She was a long-legged fiery redhead who embraced life, overcoming a challenging upbringing by taking solace in memorable summers on the family farm in Kentucky with her beloved Granny and brother, Mike. Working as a stenographer clerk for the Department of the Army at the Cincinnati Induction Center she fell in love with the dashing green-eyed, curly haired Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Haber from Brooklyn, NY. Together they moved to NYC to start their lives. After moving to Niskayuna in the early 1970s she was a devoted mother to their two children, Ali and Marc, serving as Brownie leader, room parent, Cub Scout den mother, Kadima youth group leader, Little League manager and in many other roles. She was famous for her award winning apple pie and painstakingly hand sewn and intricate Halloween costumes. 

A shining star in the dog show world, she had many successes in the Breed, Obedience and Agility rings, and was an avid mentor of youth handlers. Sandy built a top notch canine breeding program, Medina Kennels, with Golden Retrievers and later, Papillons. Outside of the ring she trained many of her champions to be therapy dogs, bringing comfort to countless residents of area nursing homes. Sandy was a Delegate to the American Kennel Club and an active member of the Papillon Club of America as well as a board member of both Mohawk and Saratoga Kennel Clubs. Of her many accomplishments she was most proud of “Frankie,” her Silver Butterfly Recipient, Best in Show, Multiple Best in Specialty Show, and Grand Champion Platinum, Medina’s Luck Be A Lady Tonight.

Sandy was a voracious reader who did the daily crossword puzzle in pen. When she was not traveling the world with the love of her life, Sandy loved floating with her friends in Lake George, spotting hummingbirds and fireflies, and watching the fairy path stretch across the lake at moonrise. Every night was game night with family and friends at their Lake George home; she was a highly competitive player of Scrabble. Boggle, and Trivial Pursuit. Aside from the dogs, her greatest pride was her kids and especially grandchildren. No matter what was going on in her life she was always “Johnny-on-the-spot” to be with them. She taught them how to be responsible dog owners and how to embrace life without regard to limitations, She was a tenaciously positive and thoughtful human being who never demanded, always gave, and made every day a little brighter for those around her. Thanks to the warm and welcoming home she created her grandkids always thought of her lakeside house as their home.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Monday, May 2 at Congregation Agudat Achim, 2117 Union Street in Niskayuna, NY with the burial immediately to follow at the Agudat Achim Cemetery in Rotterdam. Shiva will be observed at the Haber home Monday and Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, The Lake George Land Conservancy(LGLC.org) or (takethelead.org)

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