Sabra Lande

Sabra Joy Lande passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on May 11, 2021 in Laguna Beach, California. Sabra spent her last days surrounded by her adoring family and an extraordinary group of friends. Although she fought a good fight, her body could not keep up with her indomitable spirit and zest for life.   Born in San Antonio, Texas on September 1, 1940, Sabra graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in three years. After graduation, she moved to Chicago to begin an illustrious career in retail. Sabra began at Bonwit Teller in Chicago, and then moved to Houston to become a buyer for Sakowitz Department Stores. In 1977, Sabra relocated to Los Angeles and became a Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Robinson’s Department Stores. In 1985 she became Vice President, Merchandising: Licensing and Stores at Giorgio Beverly Hills. Sabra was a trailblazer as the only female senior executive within the male dominated merchandising group. She led the way to “break the glass ceiling”, mentoring countless buyers and divisional managers under her supervision.  After retiring at the age of 50, Sabra relocated to Laguna Beach and devoted the rest of her life to her many passions: art, volunteering, travel, gardening, friends, and family. She was an artist who constantly challenged herself with new mediums. Sabra often combined her passion for community service with her love for art. She was a docent at both the Laguna Museum of Art and the Laguna Festival of the Arts for many years. One of her greatest joys was teaching art. Sabra particularly enjoyed her experiences leading art classes for young adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities at Glennwood Housing Foundation, a program she co-founded, and for seniors at The Susi Q. She also volunteered her time to support the Laguna Boys and Girls Club after school program and the Laguna Recreational Department’s drop-in art program.   Sabra is survived by her nieces Ellyn Wulfe, Stacy Wulfe, Sheryl Rapp and husband Ernie, and Robyn Doyle and husband Mike, her grandnieces and grandnephews Whitney Havins and husband Danny Goldberg, Cody Rapp and fiancé Taylor Clemenza, Randall Fossi, Derek Fossi, Carly Rapp, Braden Doyle, and Brooke Doyle, as well as her great grandnephew Ellis Goldberg. Sabra was predeceased by her parents, William Benjamin Lande and Lyda Vexler Lande, and her sister, Dana Lande Wulfe.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial donations be made to Glennwood Housing Foundation, 2130 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, California 92651.   For her 80th birthday, Sabra’s nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephews gifted her a custom neon sign that reads “Our aunt is so freakin’ cool.” And she was. Sabra was simply one of a kind. With her creative flair and an unparalleled vivacity for life, she brought love, laughter, and entertainment to all around her. We were all immensely lucky to have her in our lives, and we will miss her forever.