Nick Sands was a great guy. I suppose, like the rest of us, he had a temper but I never saw him angry enough to shout at anyone. He never had a bad word to say about anyone either. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of that word. I recall working with Nick at CKWX and he was a most affable guy. People like Nick were a wonderful gift to our industry. The greatest legacy he leaves behind is his family. Nick and I shared a mutual love of family. My great sympathies to his family on this terrible loss. He will be missed by so many.

I asked Nick’s son Robert Sanzalone about his Dad:

“My father was kind and friendly. As a father he taught more by example than he did with words. And he was a wonderful example. He frequently brought me to CKWX as a child and had the record library baby-sit me. I didn’t mind at all as I spent hours discovering a world of artists as well as more familiar soundtracks such as Woody Woodpecker and the Do-Re-Mi Kids.

I knew he was kind of a special dad when we were IN the PNE parades waving at crowds and not watching them. I loved visiting him in the CKWX broadcast booth. That was my dad there. He said he was just working. To me it was much, much more.

In later years he had his own TV show in the Okanagan. He was always recognized and talked to when we went shopping. This notoriety wore off quickly and my father preferred the anonymity of radio. In fact, it was always strange to us how he HATED to make speeches. His comfort was behind a microphone making people feel at ease listening at home.

In later years people saw the similarity of myself to my father – particularly ‘the voice’. I was interested in radio but my father always discouraged me. He always thought I could do better by getting an education. It always puzzled me. The height of my public life came when I ran for civic politics in the 80s. Many thought I would extend the family public life into public service. Other than running with Gordon Campbell and the NPA, I wasn’t successful and turned my attention to being an educator which I still do today. My father was happy with my choice.

Here’s my Dad’s favourite photo: in front of a CKWX mic around the time he worked with you.”