Professor Emeritus
About
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Liberty Road Chapel on Jan. 25, 2024.
Richard H. Sands, Professor Emeritus of Physics, University of Michigan, was born in San Diego, CA, on September 28, 1929, to William R. and Lora E. Sands, both deceased. He passed away on January 22, 2024.
He is survived by his second wife, Mary S. Sands, of Milford, MI and four children; Robert M. (Rhonda) Sands of Townsend, GA; Dr. Christine E. Sands (Paul Milley) of Rancho Santa Fe, CA; Karen Sands Tinucci of Ridgefield, WA and Wm. Thomas (Sally) Sands of Portland, MI; two stepsons; Stephen T. Spewock of Libby, MT, and Justin W. (Suzanne) Spewock of Brighton, MI; and sixteen grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He married his first wife, Emma A. Sands on August 11, 1951, and they had the four children above. She preceded him in death in March of 1997. Prof. Sands taught at the University of Michigan for 37 years, from 1957 until 1994. He was the thesis professor for 20 Ph.D students, 17 in Physics and 3 in Biophysics. He was the author of 89 referred publications in Physics and Biophysics, A Fellow of the American Institute of Physics, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He received his Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in Physics from the University of Redlands, Redlands, CA, in 1950 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physics from Washington University, St. Louis, MO, in 1954. He was a Research Scientist and Instructor of Physics at Stanford University, Stanford, CA, from 1954 to 1957. He was chairman of the Department of Physics, University of Michigan, from 1978 to 1982.
He devoted a great deal of time to the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan. He was Master of Golden Rule Lodge #159, Ann Arbor, MI, in 1971; chairman of the Committee on Masonic Service and Education for Michigan from 1972 to 1977 and again in 2005-6, Member in 2007; Thrice Potent Master of the Lodge of Perfection, Valley of Detroit A.A.S.R., in 1983; Editor of From Point to Pointe in 1975-78; Editor of the Michigan Masonic Manual from 1986-2014; Grand Master of Masons of Michigan for 1985-86; Editor of Beyond the Northeast Corner, 2001 – present. He is a member of Washtenaw Chapter #6, Royal Arch Masons of Michigan; Ann Arbor Council #86, Royal and Select Masons of Michigan; Ann Arbor Commandery #13, Knights Templar of Michigan; York Rite College #3, Jackson, MI; Valley of Detroit, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; Zal Gaz Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R., Ann Arbor, MI; Fellow of the Grand College of Rites of the U.S.A.; Fellow of the Philalethes Society, member of the Omar Shrine, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Mt. Pleasant, SC and a Past Monarch of Azusa Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R., Charlotte, NC. He is a recipient of the White Cross in DeMolay, the Purple Cross in the York Rite, and an honorary 33 degree of the A.A.S.R., Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.
