Sandra Jean Alexander

I generally try to keep these newsletters music-oriented and relegate personal concerns to social media. But I felt like I should let those who receive these messages know about a profound loss in my life.

Early Tuesday morning, I lost my beautiful bride of more than 26 years, Sandy Alexander, after a courageous 3 1/2 year battle against breast cancer and two months in home hospice. She was 49 years old. Needless to say, the kiddos, Sandy's parents, and I are grief-stricken, but we are drawing upon the immense reservoir of optimism and bravery that Sandy exhibited over the past few years.

A good example of that is a request that Sandy wanted me to pass on -- in lieu of flowers, etc., she had requested that anyone who wished to honor her memory make a donation to one of her favorite places, the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, Maryland. Our hope is that, if enough people donate, we can name a bench or a tree or something after her.

If you're so inclined, please click this link. Make sure to scroll down so you can click the box that says "Honor Someone Special" and make sure to indicate the gift is in memory of "Sandy Alexander."

I'm going to get back to aggressive music-making very soon. I need to. Sandy would want me to. I promise that my next newsletter will be filled with public performance information and bad jokes.

- Seth