Tribute to Patrick Sand

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society shares in our community’s grief with the news of the passing of Patrick Sand, co-founder of the West Seattle Blog. We have been privileged to know Patrick, his warmth, his dedication and professionalism, and his unmatched sense of humor over the years. In 2017, Patrick and Tracy sat down with then Executive Director Clay Eals to share the story of the founding of the West Seattle Blog. As a man who was always behind the camera, we are honored to share this interview today.

Watch the 10 year anniversary interview, HERE and read a message from former SWSHS Executive Director, Clay Eals below.

A Message from Clay Eals

West Seattle has lost a crucial pillar who has allowed us to see ourselves and take positive action as a community. I’m speaking of Patrick Sand, who with Tracy Record since 2007 forged the West Seattle Blog into a uniquely effective source of reliable and unstinting information and visuals, fueled by integrity, fortitude and heart.

We in West Seattle are privileged to live in a bubble. We assume that other communities have something as comprehensive and compelling as the Blog, but it’s just not true. In the face of a general decline (and in some cases, demise) of print journalism, the Blog picked up the torch and, seemingly beyond the limits of human capability, has kept us informed and truly inspired over the past 17 years. For just two people — a married couple, no less — to have achieved this is nothing short of a miracle.

And now Patrick is gone, having died Oct. 17, 2024, far too early at age 67. What Tracy faces as a result, both personally and professionally, is nearly unimaginable. But solace and direction can come from the ability to see the two of them in action, as in this video from the Feb. 19, 2017, installment of the SouthWest Stories series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Herein, before an audience at High Point Library, they allowed me to conduct a wide-ranging interview of them on the occasion of the Blog’s 10th anniversary. We recorded it for posterity. Thus, today we can see and absorb their philosophies and personalities, as animatedly expressed by them. We trust that it’s a fitting appreciation during this time of grief.

As a longtime journalist and community activist, I have long admired the dedication and perseverance of Tracy and Patrick. This peerless pair set a standard that will be severely challenging for anyone to maintain, but the task is not impossible. I hope this video provides not only comfort during our present mourning but also guidance for the future. No less than the viability and vitality of our community are at stake.