Quentin J. “Sandy” Johnston
1944-2026
The Johnston family has a long history in Montecito. They owned and managed the San Ysidro Ranch circa 1886 until the the mid 1930’s and built the Johnston Fruit Packing Company on their land. The Johnston Fruit company was known for citrus and other fruit cultivation and packing, contributing to the agricultural history of Montecito and the greater Santa Barbara area. Growing up nearby, Sandy played in the hills of Montecito as a child. He loved to share the story of being scolded by Madame Ganna Walska for getting into her fountains. He attended Cold Spring Elementary School. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School (once a Don, always a Don), Sandy attended Cal Poly, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and later moved to Denver, Colorado, where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree.
As a lifelong member of the YMCA, Sandy quickly became the unofficial greeter and an immediate friend to many of the Y’s early risers. Always ready with his warm personality, sense of humor, and quick-witted “bad” puns, he made the morning greeting a tradition for many years that everyone enjoyed. Sandy loved to make people laugh and enjoyed playing with language, refusing to let many statements go unchallenged without adding in his wordplay, once saying he thought he was indecisive, but remarked, “I’m not sure about that.”
Sandy was a friend to all and could converse with a diverse range of people, including college leaders, mathematicians, physicists, historians, folks delivering the weekly Independent, the young Y staff, and strangers. Sandy was always willing to help others, offer advice (especially in his professional capacity in child development), and discuss serious issues of contemporary policies and of socioeconomic significance. He was also a fan of popular culture and sports, remembering names and details of historical athletes at their greatest moments.
In essence, Sandy was a kind, thoughtful, and cherished husband and friend, and will always remain in our hearts. The world is quieter without him and a lot less fun.
Sandy will be buried next to his mother at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, overlooking the ocean he loved.
