It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Dr. Sandy DeSimone, our Director of Research, Education, and Land Management at Starr Ranch Sanctuary, recently passed away. Our deepest sympathies go to her husband and Starr Ranch Manager, Pete DeSimone, during this difficult time.
Sandy’s 30 years of commitment to the sanctuary and passion for conservation has left an incredible legacy of impact. After conducting her thesis and dissertation research on coastal sage scrub at Starr Ranch, our 4,000-acre Audubon Sanctuary in southeast Orange County, she took on the role of Director in 1997. Since then, she has been the heart of the sanctuary, building popular education programs, partnering with biologists and universities to conduct long-term bird and wildlife research, and introducing new ways of thinking about ecological restoration and wildlife habitat.
Sandy was known statewide for her innovative experiments to test nonchemical methods for controlling invasive weeds and she has restored large swaths of grasslands and globally endangered coastal scrublands. Her land management ethos has been replicated on over 100,000 acres of habitat in Orange County and beyond. Starr Ranch Field Ecology Programs, created and led by Sandy, brought in thousands of people of all ages – from PhD students receiving mentorship to elementary-aged children learning about the canyon’s owls, to experience the mosaic of imperiled habitats of the site.
I had the privilege of working with Sandy for almost 20 years – her love of Starr Ranch ran deep and influenced everyone around her. But Sandy’s greatest impact was on the hundreds of students and early career biologists that she mentored annually through her internship and education programs. Sandy would often share with me letters and emails from past staff, many going on to get PhDs and work in conservation, while staying in touch and expressing deep appreciation for all she taught them. Her impact on so many early career biologists was immeasurable.
Sandy was truly a conservation hero. All of us at Audubon California feel honored to have known her and to have witnessed her work, humor, and intelligence. She will be greatly missed.
Enjoy memories of Sandy DeSimone in the short film Nature’s Notebook: Help Our Planet in a Changing Climate.
