Donald "Don" Richard Sands

Donald Richard Sands was born the middle child of seven children to Dr. William C. Sands and Ruth E. Carterette Sands, in September of 1952. Though his father was from the Canadian Maritimes and his mother from Florida, Don was born in Boston, Massachusetts, before the family eventually settled in Oshawa, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Ontario east of Toronto.

Oshawa became the center of Don’s childhood and formative years. Raised in a deeply faith-centered Seventh-day Adventist home, Don grew up surrounded by church life, education, service, and strong family bonds. His mother’s unwavering faith and his father’s commitment to medicine and community shaped much of the environment in which he was raised. As the middle child, Don often became a natural peacemaker among siblings and developed a thoughtful, gentle manner that would characterize him throughout his life.

One of Don’s earliest passions was bird watching. Introduced to it through members of the local church community, he spent countless Sabbaths hiking the woods, marshes, and lakeshores around Oshawa. He developed an impressive knowledge of birds and nature, identifying species by their calls, silhouettes, and flight patterns. His love for the outdoors stayed with him throughout his life and became a cherished part of many family memories.

The Sands family also spent significant time on a rural property near Madoc, Ontario, where Don enjoyed the forests, lake, orchards, and simple rhythms of outdoor life.

These experiences helped foster his appreciation for nature, quiet reflection, and meaningful conversation.

A profound turning point in Don’s life came when his father passed away unexpectedly while Don was still young. The loss left Ruth to raise seven children on her own. Through those difficult years, Don’s faith deepened, and he became increasingly involved in church leadership, spiritual programs, and religious outreach. Friends and family remember him as sincere in his convictions, thoughtful in his approach to others, and dedicated to living out his beliefs with kindness rather than harshness.

Don pursued studies in religion at Southern University in Tennessee and later served in ministerial roles in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. He eventually returned to Oshawa to teach religion at Kingsway College, his alma mater. In retirement, he moved with his wife to Lacombe, Alberta.

Don was known for his thoughtful nature, his love of discussion and learning, and his distinctive sense of humor — often more subtle, intellectual, or delightfully “dad-joke” in style than loud or attention-seeking. He valued conversation, faith, family traditions, and maintaining connections with siblings and friends over the years, often through lively debates about religion, politics, and life itself.

Don passed away on May 4, 2026 in Red Deer, Alberta at the age of 73 years, and is survived by his loving wife Darlene Sands; his two sons Donnie and Mike Sands; three grandchildren Aidric, Aerilyn (children of Donnie and Autumn Sands) and Zoë (daughter of Mike and Kim Sands); his brother George Sands; sister Heather Sands; as well as numerous nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces.

Above all, Don will be remembered for his steady presence, his devotion to faith and family, his love of nature and learning, and the quiet compassion with which he approached others. His life touched many through ministry, teaching, friendship, and family, and he leaves behind memories that continue to bring comfort, laughter, and gratitude to those who knew him.

A Celebration Of Life for Don Sands will be held on Monday, June 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Ellis Nature Centre (39502 Range Road 260, Lacombe County, AB T4L 1W7). The afternoon will include a short service followed by nature activities in his honour.

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