Columnist Muriel Stevens: Thompson was one of the family

Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002 | 8:23 a.m.

It must be a mistake. That was my first thought when I learned that Sandy Thompson had died in a tragic accident early Friday morning.

It was just a few days before that she came to my office to proudly tell me that her daughter, Kelly, had developed a keen interest in cooking, and to ask if I would go through my files and choose some recipes for her.

Kelly had just graduated from college, so one of the cookbooks I gave her was "Help, There's a Kitchen in My Apartment."

We reminisced, Kelly's mother and I, about the days when Kelly was a toddler and an integral part of the Sun family, just as we all were, including Kelly's dad, Gary, who was managing editor.

What a wonderful way for a kid with two working parents to grow up.

It's been years since I've thought about the birthday parties, monthly potluck dinner poker games (always at the Thompsons') and acts of generosity that Sandy initiated. She was a mentor to every young writer, using patience and understanding, and years later many of them were still in touch.

It's difficult to write about Sandy without making her sound as if she were too good to be true, except that she was that good, to everyone. And that's the truth.

She was there for me when my husband died. I'd written occasional pieces for the Sun, but not on a regular basis. When Sandy invited me to become a weekly contributor, she helped me fill the suddenly empty spaces.

In those early days, when life was so much less complicated than it is now, we didn't have to struggle as much to make time to be with the people we cared about. Or, maybe we were just as busy but we worked harder to stay in touch.

Whatever the reason Sandy was usually the catalyst.

Sandy was a great do-it-yourselfer, hanging paper, painting and making any place she lived a home. She was a true nester. One of the many causes she championed was Christmas in April, an organization devoted to improving the homes of those who cannot afford to do it themselves.

It was through Sandy that I learned about the workings of Christmas in April; how contractors, the building trades and volunteers gave endless hours to making decrepit living quarters habitable. Their mission is to renovate the homes of low income persons, the disabled and the elderly.

Christmas in April's sole annual fund-raiser, taking place at the Four Seasons on Oct. 27 (more about this, later), will be a tribute to Sandy and there will be further ongoing tributes. This is according to Sandy's close friend and Christmas in April board member Barbara Helgren.

But what will happen to the children now that Sandy is gone? The horror stories she shared with me about the lives of abused or abandoned kids and a court system that often failed them and their parents are the stuff of nightmares.

Sandy's support of children in need was as sincere as her love for Gary and Kelly.

Who can take her place? Who will care about the children as she did?