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Alexander "Sandy" McKusick, 84, passed away April 6, 2008, at the Villages of North Branch.

He was the youngest of six sons born to Frederick and Mathilda (Topinka) McKusick in Pine City, Minn., where he grew up.

Sandy was active in high school sports, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. In 1941, he was named Basketball Player of the Week by Dick Cullum, Minneapolis Star-Journal, for scoring 22 points in a conference game.

After graduating from high school in 1942, Sandy enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country during World War II. Sandy earned the rank of Torpedoman First Class, and was assigned to the destroyer USS Watts. He served in the South Pacific until the Japanese surrendered in 1945. His ship was in Tokyo Bay when the surrender was signed. Sandy was honorably discharged from the Navy. He was always proud to have served the country that he loved.

After discharge, Sandy attended college in Duluth for a short time, while working on Great Lakes ore carriers as a deck hand. He transferred to St. Cloud Teachers College, where he graduated in 1950 with a degree in history and a coaching certificate.

In 1951 Sandy began his teaching and coaching career at Hanley Falls, Minn. In the fall of 1953, he came to North Branch to teach American and World History and to coach basketball and assist in football. In 1962 he became the first Athletic Director at North Branch High School, a job he held until 1972. He transferred to the Middle School to teach seventh grade American History where he remained until he retired in 1985. Sandy spent a total of 35 years in education.

While in college, Sandy met Marylou Blakeslee. In 1950 they married in the First Presbyterian Church, in Mankato, Minn. To this union two children were born: Jonathan Blake McKusick and Constance Louise McKusick.

For several years following retirement, Sandy and Marylou spent winter months in Arizona and summer months at the cabin in Gordon, Wis. Sandy loved being by the lake, in the woods, with good friends and neighbors.

Sandy was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, Chisago Chapter #232 and 28-year member of American Legion Post 85, both in North Branch. For several years Sandy was president of the District 25 Coaches Association. For two years he was Camp Director at Kamp Kitchie Kahnis, on the north side of Mille Lacs Lake. This was a Big Brothers Camp, sponsored by the Minneapolis Optimists Club. In the early 1970s he chaperoned high school students for the American Institute for Foreign Studies in Rome, Italy and Athens, Greece. In 1983 Sandy was named History Teacher of the Year by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

In 1977 Sandy was nominated for charter membership in the North Branch Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon his induction, Sandy said, "Teaching and coaching have fulfilled my need and desire to work with young people. I am proud that many of them have gone on to lead very successful lives."

Alexander McKusick is survived by his wife of 58 years Marylou; his son Jonathan (Sharon) and daughter Connie (Kenny); two grandchildren: Corey (Stephanie) and Heidi (Bobby); five great-grandchildren: Alexander, Olivia, and Jack McKusick; and Riley and Haylee Altenburg; two sisters-in-law: Shirley McKusick, Sacramento, CA and Betty Jarvis, Lindstrom, Minn.; and many nephews, nieces, colleagues and friends.

Visitation is from 4-8 p.m., Friday, May 16, at Grandstrand Funeral Home, North Branch. A memorial service for Alexander "Sandy" McKusick will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at the United Methodist Church, in North Branch. Arrangements by Grandstrand Funeral Home, in North Branch.

The family prefers memorials to the Sandy McKusick Athletics Fund, in care of North Branch Schools.

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