George F. Sandström, 81, Artist and illustrator
deb...@comcast.net
By Sally A. Downey
Inquirer Staff Writer
George F. Sandström, 81, formerly of Cochranville, an artist and
illustrator of natural history books, died of cancer June 1 at Herman
Memorial Hospital in Houston. He had moved from Chester County to
Sugarland, Texas, three years ago.
Mr. Sandström illustrated 40 books, including Seashells of the World
and Gems and Semiprecious Stones for Golden Press; Philippine Birds,
South Pacific Birds and Woodpeckers of the World, published by the
Delaware Museum of Natural History; and two books on rocks and minerals
by Charles Sorrell. Mr. Sandström's illustrations appeared in Ranger
Rick, a children's magazine published by the National Wildlife
Federation.
His son Cortright said that when he was growing up, his father's studio
was full of stuffed animals and strange objects - including a moon rock
- which he was using as a model for an illustration.
In recent years, Mr. Sandström, who was self-taught, concentrated on
fine art and painted water colors of historic buildings, landscapes and
wildlife - everything but portraits of people, his son said. His work
hangs in private collections and has been exhibited at Brandywine River
Museum, Chadds Ford Gallery, and galleries and museums in New York,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Tucson, Ariz., where his luminous, detailed
paintings of gold, marcasite, and rare stibnite and galena are in the
Mineralogical Record Museum of Art.
Mr. Sandström grew up in Rosario, Argentina, where he studied
economics. He was very handsome, his son said, and immigrated to the
United States in 1950 with plans to become an actor - the move was
financed by winnings from a lottery ticket. He lived with an aunt in
Philadelphia and found work in a bank after he was rejected by theater
casting directors because of his accent.
In 1951, he married Marita Mullan. She persuaded him to pursue a career
in art. The couple had two sons, Robert and Ron, before divorcing in
1962. In 1963, he married Leslie Lockhart, with whom he had sons
Cortright and Scott and a daughter, Diana Thomas.
In addition to his children and former wives, Mr. Sandström is
survived by nine grandchildren; a brother; and four sisters.
The funeral and burial were private.