Adele G. Sands, 89; was head of school

Adele Griffin Sands, 89, retired head of the Agnes Irwin School, a private girls academy in Rosemont, died of heart failure Sept. 30 at Waverly Heights, a retirement community in Gladwyne.

Mrs. Sands graduated in 1937 from Agnes Irwin, where she was yearbook editor and president of the drama club.

She returned to her alma mater in 1963 to head the middle school. From 1965, she was associate head of Agnes Irwin before becoming headmistress in 1981. After retiring in 1986, she was interim head of the Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland for a year.

During her years as an Agnes Irwin administrator, Mrs. Sands developed and taught courses, including Women in Literature, and was a class adviser.

As headmistress in the 1980s, she initiated plans for a computer center, telling a faculty member, "I don't know where the money will come from, but I will find it." In 1985 the school dedicated its Sands Technology Center in her honor.

When Mrs. Sands received the school's Willing Award in 1977, headmistress Anne Lenox said, "This woman personifies those attributes Miss Irwin personally felt were so important: intellect, dignity, and charm."

Agnes Irwin seniors dedicated their yearbook to Mrs. Sands more than six times. One class noted, "She provided us with a master role model: mother, administrator, adviser, and friend."

When she joined the Agnes Irwin staff, Mrs. Sands had seven young children at home. She was well organized and could delegate, her daughter Priscilla said. "I remember polishing my younger sister's saddle shoes under the watchful eye of my older sister."

While juggling her duties at Agnes Irwin and at home, Mrs. Sands earned a master's degree in English literature from Villanova University.

She served on the boards of Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Bryn Mawr, Springside School in Chestnut Hill, and Woodlynde School in Strafford. In 1998, Mrs. Sands was chairwoman of the board of Sleighton Farm School and oversaw its affiliation with Elwyn Inc. Both Delaware County institutions provided services to troubled children.

Mrs. Sands grew up in Wawa, Pa. Her father was a chemistry professor at Swarthmore College, where her mother was dean of women. She earned a bachelor's degree from Vassar College and in 1942 married William MacCoy. In 1943, two months before their daughter, Marguerite, was born, he was killed in a flight training exercise while serving in the Army Air Corps.

In 1947 she married James Sands, with whom she had three more daughters and three sons. He died in 2002.

Mrs. Sands was an avid Eagles fan.

In addition to Priscilla, she is survived by daughters Elizabeth, Marguerite Borden, and Adele Berking; sons William, Geoffrey, and James Jr.; two brothers; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral was Oct. 5 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Concordville, where Mrs. Sands had served on committees and taught Sunday school. Burial was in St. Thomas the Apostle Cemetery in Glen Mills.

Memorial donations may be made to the Agnes Irwin School, 275 St. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010.