Sandra Lee Emerson

September 2, 1943 – January 26, 2025

In Loving Memory of Sandra Lee Emerson

Sandra Lee Emerson (née Smith), a luminous spirit, devoted mother, gifted innovator, and steadfast friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 26, 2025, at the age of 81. The oldest of three children born to Earl and Georgiana Smith in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised in Manchester, Sandra’s life was marked by intellect, resilience, and deep compassion. She lived with intention, led with grace, and loved without limits.

As senior class president and an exceptional student, Sandra stood out early. In 1962, she moved west to attend the University of California, Berkeley, becoming one of the first women in the U.S. to graduate with a degree in computer science. She entered the field with quiet determination, forging a path for others to follow.

Sandra met her husband, Robert Bruce Emerson III, on a skiing trip, and soon began her family. Her career included roles at Gerber Scientific, Kaiser Hospital, and Bay Area Rapid Transit. In the 1980s, she founded several businesses, including a drapery company and a pioneering software firm, Liberty Bell. There, she helped develop D-Window—one of the earliest graphical user interfaces—placing her at the forefront of the computing revolution.

In 1985, seeking a safer life for her children, she left California with only what they could carry and rebuilt from scratch in a farmhouse near Cape Horn in the Columbia Gorge. Her home became a haven of love, music, and belonging—for family, friends, and all in need.

Sandra was a renaissance woman: a gifted pianist, vivid storyteller, and lifelong student of scripture. She passed on her love of music to her son Bryan and inspired her son Keith to become an aeronautical engineer, sharing her intellect, creativity, and determination.

Sandra lived by 1 Corinthians 13:4–7: “Love is patient, love is kind… It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Even in declining health—surviving a triple bypass, cancer twice, and two strokes—her joy and optimism never faded.

She is survived by her sons, Bryan (Anne) and Keith (Lindsay); grandchildren Megan, Kevin, Lauren, Sydney, and Ryan; siblings Audrey Ellenwood (John) and Gary Smith (Alison Nelson); and a wide circle of friends and loved ones.

A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held at Bethel Community Church in Washougal, WA, on June 28 at 3 P.M. A recording will be available after the ceremony. All are welcome.