Originally from Detroit, Sandy Seppala retired to Traverse City in 2008. She grew up in Detroit and attended University of Michigan and graduated from Wayne State University. She lived in the San Jose, California, for 22 years and Alexandria, Virginia, for 19 years, before retiring to Traverse City. Professionally she was a manager, writer, and editor in communications and marketing in the field of computer hardware and software, which included technical publications, newsletters and Web content.
Sandy was a high school summer exchange student to Finland in 1961 with Youth for Understanding. She then served in the Peace Corps in Kenya from 1977–79 as a high school teacher in “harambee” schools—community schools—that received no government funding… she was the government support! She taught history and English in two high schools. She also joined a team during vacation to build a school classroom foundation as well as a teacher’s house on the school compound. She also taught family planning to the students at her schools. After her tour, she traveled around the world for three months on her trip home (India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, New Caledonia, Australia). These experiences changed her worldview and expanded her mind to other cultures and religions.
Sandy founded the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northern Michigan and is a co-founder of Friends of Kenya and of a local FOK group in D.C. She is member of the National Peace Corps Association, past board member of the International Affairs Forum, member of the American Association of University Women, and active at Grace Episcopal Church. She’s also is a voracious knitter and reader of mysteries (and other genres too).
She married Kim Gyr in September 2016. Together their family includes Sandy’s two sons, one daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters, who live on the West Coast; honorary son (Kenyan) and honorary two granddaughters who live Pennsylvania; and Kim’s son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, who live in England.