Chrysandra L. "Sandy" Walter

Chrysandra “Sandy” L. Walter, age 63, a former senior U.S. National Park Service official, passed away on March 21, 2011 in Scarborough, ME after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was lovingly cared for by her husband Seamus Connolly who along with family and friends, were by her side.

Sandy grew up in Palo Alto, CA and graduated from San Jose State University with a BA degree in Park Administration and Recreation Management. She is a graduate of the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program.

Prior to coming to Lowell, Sandy served as the Deputy Superintendent at New York and New Jersey’s Gateway National Recreation Area, Superintendent at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Unit Manager at San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Chief Ranger at the George Washington Memorial Parkway, an Interpretive Specialist in New York Group, Environmental Education Specialist in the Pacific Northwest Region and a Park Ranger at Point Reyes National Seashore. At every stage of her career, Sandy was innovative, adventurous, excelled in people skills and was highly respected by her colleagues. In recognition of her contributions in park education and interpretation, partnerships and management Sandy was honored with the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award.

From 1984 until 1992, Sandy served as the Superintendent of the Lowell National Historical Park. At the park, she oversaw major capital development including the rehabilitation of the Boott Mill to be the park museum, and in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Lowell, she established the Tsongas Industrial History Center to serve school children and their teachers. The Tsongas Center program was so successful that school classes visited from all over the country. Working in collaboration with Joe Wilson, former director of the National Council for Traditional Arts, Sandy hosted, with the City of Lowell and the Regatta Committee, the Lowell National Folk Festival. Twenty five years later, the event continues as the Lowell Folk Festival, New England’s largest “free” multi-cultural musical gathering. Through her association with the Lowell National Folk Festival, a new found love of music led her to meet her husband of eight years, Seamus Connolly, an internationally-known master of Irish traditional musicians and teachers. Since they met in the mid 1980‘s, Sandy and Seamus have worked together tirelessly to further the Celtic music, song and dance tradition.


At the time of her retirement Sandy was the Northeast Deputy Regional Director with oversight responsibilities for all the national parks and park service programs in the 13-state Northeast Region. She was a tireless mentor to regional and park staff and led a national workgroup making recommendations for improvements to the National Park Service’s education and interpretation programs. She also led initiatives to make parks and their stories relevant to the nation’s diverse populations. Prior to her position in the Northeast Region, Sandy served briefly as the National Capital Deputy Regional Director in Washington, D.C.

After 38 years of service Sandy retired in 2007 to live in North Yarmouth ME where she and Seamus enjoyed a life full of music with new and old friends. Her love of the National Parks caused her to launch a line of jewelry inspired by the beauty and uniqueness of each national park.


In addition to Seamus, Sandy is survived by her mother and stepfather, Winnie and Larry Moore of Los Altos CA, sisters Diane Evers of Eagle River WI and Palm Harbor FL and Debbie Contro of Saratoga CA. She is also survived by three stepchildren, Ronan Connolly, Darragh Connolly and Keelin Connolly all of Massachusetts.