Sandra Hobson Obituary

Sandra Hobson
09/15/1943 - 06/10/2025
In 1989 Sandra Hobson resigned her position as President of the Board of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to initiate a study of consciousness and the wisdom of indigenous cultures. Her intent was to bring a deeper spiritual connection to the role of service she had taken as a guiding force in her life. This pursuit, matched with her fierce love for her family and friends, formed the core of her activity for the remainder of her life.
Her central achievement in her life, in her own estimation, was her capacity to support friends and colleagues in times of transition. She was a loving friend and advisor to many. Since 1989 she maintained a counseling practice where she gave guidance to individuals and organizations seeking a path of transformation.
She kept a journal of her life experiences and important thoughts and one of which she loved deeply was the Rumi quote: "Let the joy of what you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground." Assisting others to find that path was her true joy.
Sandra Hobson was a student of indigenous wisdom and the healing practices of shamans and other healers for over forty years. She traveled widely following this interest and worked with native healers in such places as Nepal, Ecuador, Peru, Bali, Brazil, Siberia and New Zealand. She integrated the teachings learned from these explorations into her practice as a counselor and teacher. Bringing indigenous wisdom into the mainstream was a lifelong passion for her.
Her interest in healing practices inspired her to be a founding board member and Chair of the Institute for Health and Healing at California Pacific Medical Center and a board member of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. She brought to these institutions her experience with non-profit organizations, including her roles as the President of the Board of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, a member of the President's advisory board of JFK University, and a member of many other non-profit boards. She also served as an advisor to the Arts and Healing Network and the Flow Fund Circle and was the co-founder and President of the Hobson Family Foundation.
She was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1943, the daughter of Edward and Eleanor Snellman. In 1964 she married Charles Hobson and moved with him to Charlottesville, Virginia to support him while he attended the University of Virginia Law School. She was the office manager/paralegal at Tremblay & Colmer, a law firm in Charlottesville.
In 1968 she and her husband moved to San Francisco where their daughter, Mary Daniel, was born that year and her son, Parker Edward, was born four years later. In the early 70's, she owned the Sausalito Woolworks where she taught such courses as Higher Consciousness Through Needlepoint. In the late 70's she became a painter until she decided it was important to share the meaning of art with others and became a Docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. After several years as a Children's Docent, she became President of the Docent Board. She was active in many other Bay Area arts organizations including the San Francisco Art Institute, Antenna Theatre and the Graphic Arts Council of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Charles Hobson; her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Daniel Hobson and Jonathan Rauh of Muir Beach; her son and daughter-in-law, Parker and Joanna Hobson, of Kentfield; and her grandchildren, Anna Rauh, Jessica Rauh, Oliver Hobson and Zadie Hobson.
Sandra Hobson died in her home at Stinson Beach, instantly and gracefully, with Charles at her side.
If you wish to make a gift celebrating her life please do so to the Institute for Health and Healing at the California Pacific Medical Center by visiting cpmc.org/give now-ihh.