Sandy Glista

Leading with her heart and unwavering determination, Sandra Glista lived a life rich in family, friends, and service. Sandy possessed a warm heart for people, animals, and nature, and she valued communication in all its forms. As a lifelong leader in Western Michigan University's Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences department, Sandy's teaching and mentorship shaped generations of students and enriched patients' lives. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, practitioner, advocate, and friend, Sandy will long be remembered by those she so dearly loved.

Sandra was born in October 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. Growing up in Elmwood Park, Sandy attended parochial schools. Her father worked in maintenance at an ink factory, and her mother raised Sandy and Sandy's half-brother, Fred. Sandy’s father passed away when she was only 10, which led to her mother taking a job as an assistant in a medical office. From a young age, Sandy became very independent, persevering, and determined. When she was a student at Mother Guerin High School, the nuns encouraged her to pursue a profession outside the home. In addition to her studies, Sandy worked at the local department store to help provide for her family.

After graduating from high school in 1968, Sandy enrolled at Quincy College for a year on a scholarship, and then transferred to Loyola University on scholarship. At Loyola she served as a Residential Assistant and excelled at anything she set her mind to.

At Loyola, Sandy met her future husband, Marty Glista, in a large lecture hall where they were sitting, waiting for a metaphysics class to start. The couple dated until Sandy completed her graduate studies at the University of Illinois, graduating with a Master of Science in May of 1974. With their hearts set on sharing the future, Sandy and Marty married on August 24, 1974, at St. Celestine Church in Elmwood Park. While honeymooning in Dowagiac, Michigan, at Marty's uncle's place at Sister Lakes for a week, Marty planned on living off the land, a source of stories they told their three children many times in the years to follow.

The newlyweds made their first home on Chicago's North Side, and Sandy became a supervisor early in her first job at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. In 1976, Sandy and Marty welcomed their first child, Steve. Two years later, Marty's law career inspired a move to Kalamazoo. The family grew with the birth of daughter Anne in 1980 and the arrival of son Michael in 1983.

Sandra worked part-time at Western Michigan University beginning in 1979 and had a private practice offering speech therapy services to patients suffering from brain injury or aphasia, and children with developmental language impairments. Earning a great reputation, Sandra joined the Western Michigan University faculty in 1982, teaching graduate-level courses in adult neurologic communication disorders. In the university’s Charles Van Riper Language, Speech and Hearing Clinic, she coordinated the Aphasia Communication Enhancement Program. Sandra eventually earned tenure at Western, a rare feat of recognition for someone like Sandy who did not hold a PhD.

Throughout her 40-year professional career, she was well known nationwide and internationally. In 2006, Sandy served as President of the Michigan Speech-Language Hearing Foundation and was instrumental in establishing MSHA’s annual scholarship program. She was recognized as a Fellow for her professional achievements by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In 2010, Sandy received MHSA’s Honors of the Association for her significant impact on preparing the next generation of outstanding clinicians, to help them see aging adults, particularly those with aphasia, as people first, with families and interesting lives of their own. Highly respected in her field, Sandy wasn't afraid to make waves. She strove for continuous improvement at WMU, and advocated for legislation as the Michigan representative on the ASHA Legislative Council to effect positive change in her field. Sandy wrote many professional papers and served on countless faculty committees. As a result of her work in the aphasia community, Sandy's legacy lives on in Aphasia Access' national Sandra O. Glista Excellence in Mentoring award, and her work is carried on by the many students she taught and stayed in close contact with over the years.

Sandy was also a super mom. She and Marty prioritized family dinners and supported the kids in their activities; one of them was always there. With a love for baking, Sandy delighted in preparing special themed birthday cakes for her children. She loved knowledge and reading, especially novels for fun, and was determined to share this love with her kids. Together, Sandy and the kids made it a tradition to visit the Kalamazoo library to borrow stacks of books.

The kids also enjoyed many adventures with their mom, including train trips to Chicago to visit the museums and shop for the holidays. Though she was only 5'2", she could move fast down Michigan Avenue. Because Sandy had a life-long fear of water, she ensured that all the kids had swimming lessons so they would became great swimmers. She even faced her fear so that she could go fishing with Marty, and once took a week-long sailboat trip with the family. Sandy lived by the Golden Rule and was big on volunteering and giving back to the community. She introduced all of the children to the Catholic Church, and made sure they all grew up with a strong moral compass. Because of her own educational experiences, she prioritized education, encouraged her kids to be good students, and always reminded them that “the goal is to get a Terminal Degree!” Sandy also loved hosting Christmas Eve parties and honoring Marty's Polish heritage by making pierogi and kolacky to share with all of the guests.

During the 80's, Sandy and Marty purchased a farm near Marty's parents' home in Lawrence, Michigan. Sandy's mother-in-law proved to be an inspiration, and soon Sandy was learning to garden. She grew vegetables with the kids, especially tomatoes, and became a certified master gardener. A visionary and conservationist, Sandy reforested the land that she and Marty owned, planting over five acres with oak and Christmas tree saplings. One year, she planted a rainbow garden, which required careful planning. When all the colors bloomed later in the summer, it was just amazing. Sandy also loved her cats and dogs. In quieter times, Sandy learned to weave fabric into Christmas ornaments and scarves with unique patterns. In 2006, when Marty decided to run for a judgeship, Sandy used her enormous talents to run an outstanding campaign for him.

Over the years, Sandy enjoyed taking family trips to the Leelanau Peninsula and exploring National Parks. The Grand Canyon, Zion, and Saguaro were among her favorites. She also enjoyed vacationing with friends in Hawaii, where she was thrilled to watch the whales. When her family grew, and she became a grandma, Sandy joyfully welcomed her new role. She loved being a grandma for her two grandsons, David and Alex, baking more themed cakes, and helping pick them up from the Gagie School. When Steve, Peggy, and their two boys moved to Amsterdam for 2-years, Sandy traveled there often, enjoying the Dutch culture and reading all the labels on the cookies and chocolates so that Alex would not eat any peanuts by mistake.

With signature strength, an indomitable spirit, and Marty's great care, Sandy lived an incredible 30 months after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2023.

As we celebrate Sandy's life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories, and may we also find comfort in carrying Sandy's legacy of love, family, and empowering communication, education, and service forward. In each moment we choose to generously share our time and talent to help others, seek knowledge, stand up for our beliefs, confidently face challenges, tend to our gardens, cheer on our loved ones, and share our love of books, we keep Sandy's memory alive and inspire others as she so inspired each of us.

Sandy Glista died peacefully at home on February 1, 2026. Members of her family include her husband of 52 years, Marty Glista; children: Steve Glista (Peggy Kingsley) and grandsons, David and Alex; Anne (Jeremiah) Worth, and Michael Glista; brother Fred Oslager., and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. Sandy was a lifelong leader within the WMU Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences department, where she served from 1979 until her retirement in 2018, and held the title of Professor Emerita. Her impact on students, patients, colleagues and the profession spans generations and her dedication to teaching and mentorship will be long remembered.

Please join us at a Life Story Service on Saturday, March 7, 2026, 4 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A reception will follow in the Life Story Center, where food, drinks, and stories will be shared. Celebrate Sandy’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes or Aphasia Access.