It  is with a sad heart we bring you the news that our dear friend and fellow Vasa member Åke Sandler passed away on January 1, 2008.

Åke was very active in the  Vasa Order and was the 2007 District 15 Academic Community Liaison, as well as District Deputy for North Star Lodge.

Before his retirement, Åke was Professor of Government at California College at Los Angeles and also taught  at Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of Minnesota.  He wrote several textbooks and numerous journal articles on American as well as Scandinavian governments and politics. As a longtime columnist  for the Swedish-American newspaper Vestkusten he tackled many controversial issues.

His cheerful presence at Vasa events will be very much missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with Åke's wife Jane and his family.