Sandra C. Hollin (Courtesy of the family)
Harris Hollin was home on leave from the Army and preparing to leave for Korea when a high school friend asked him to come along to Temple University to say goodbye to some college friends.
On Broad Street across from Rodef Shalom, Hollin noticed a young woman in bobby socks and a pea coat whom he initially thought looked much younger than a college student. She was Sandra “Sande” Feldman, a Temple student. They talked, went to lunch and he took her phone number.
After Hollin returned from Korea, he called her for a date.
“I knew I was gonna marry her on the first date,” he said.
They were married for 71 1/2 years.
Sandra C. Hollin, a longtime volunteer and supporter of Jewish and cultural organizations in Philadelphia who served as a docent and then a board member at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, died July 12. The Haverford resident was 93.
Born in Philadelphia in 1933 to Anne and Jack Feldman, Hollin attended Germantown High School and graduated from Temple University in 1953 with a degree in marketing.
Her husband said attending college was less common for women at the time.
“It was unusual for them to go to college and it was even more unusual for them to major in marketing,” he said.
After marrying, she taught elementary school for a year. Hollin devoted herself largely to raising the couple’s three sons while the family moved several times because of her husband’s business career. They lived in places that included Oakland, California, Wilmington, Delaware and Harrison, New York.
As the family moved, Hollin settled her sons into new homes and communities. Her husband said she became involved in school organizations and encouraged the boys in their activities.
“She was really an extraordinary mother to them,” Harris Hollin said.
Jonathan Hollin remembered his mother driving him to judo lessons when he was in sixth grade in California.
“She was a loving and caring mother,” he said.
Hollin’s Jewish identity remained important throughout her life. The family celebrated Jewish holidays, belonged to a total of 10 synagogues wherever they lived and traveled to Israel six times.
She was involved with Hadassah for seven decades and served as president of a Hadassah chapter while living in Harrison. Her husband said she also participated in Jewish communal organizations after returning to Philadelphia.
Hollin also gave considerable time to Philadelphia’s cultural institutions.
Her most sustained involvement was with the Penn Museum. She began there as a docent, giving tours and teaching visitors about museum exhibits. Her husband said she became particularly knowledgeable about Native American history and culture and was effective working with young people.
She later joined the museum’s board and participated as the institution renovated galleries and made other changes.
“She was very proud to be connected with the museum,” Harris Hollin said.
Her son said the museum suited his mother’s natural curiosity. She read extensively, particularly biographies and history, and retained details about what she learned.
“She had a real depth of knowledge,” Jonathan Hollin said, but “she wasn’t the kind of person that would dominate a conversation with stuff that she knew about.”
Even near the end of her life, he said, she could recall events involving her grandparents and details from books and places she had visited.
“It was one of those ‘still waters run deep’ sort of situations,” Jonathan Hollin said. “There was a lot more intellect there than was on the surface.”
Travel was another important part of Hollin’s life. She accompanied her husband on trips to numerous countries and enjoyed learning about the places and people they encountered.
The couple also shared an interest in the arts. Hollin was a board member of the Philadelphia Opera Company, and she and her husband regularly attended opera and Philadelphia Orchestra performances. They also played golf together.
In later years, reading remained one of Hollin’s favorite activities. She was an avid reader of biographies, history and novels. She also regularly watched the soap opera “General Hospital.”
Family remained her priority.
Harris Hollin said she was close to her eight grandchildren and that she and her husband took them on trips and to museums.
“She always was happy whenever she would see one of her grandchildren,” he said. “Usually she wanted to sit next to them and hold their hand.”
Shortly before Hollin died, she learned that a great-grandchild was expected. Her granddaughter-in-law showed her an ultrasound image before the pregnancy was announced more widely.
“She was very happy about it,” Jonathan Hollin said. “For a moment, there was a glimmer that she would live long enough to see that.”
Harris Hollin said his wife remained active into her 90s. Even when she required aides near the end of her life, Jonathan said, she regularly praised them, telling others how kind and helpful they were.
His description of his mother was simple.
“She was a nice woman and a kind woman, and not a person to draw attention to herself,” Jonathan Hollin said.
Harris Hollin’s description of what he misses after seven decades of marriage was equally simple.
“I miss everything about her,” he said.
Ellen Braunstein is a freelance obituary writer. She welcomes suggestions for individuals who had meaningful ties to the Philadelphia Jewish community. Email csix@midatlanticmedia.com.