Ernest Clifford Sandin Jr. was born on November 6 ^th 1922 at the Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Il.  to Ernest Clifford Sandin and Hazel Sophia Johnson. He lived in Chicago's Ravenswood district until 1932.

The family then moved to Hinsdale, Il. (a suburb of Chicago), where his father became the pastor of Hinsdale Baptist Church. He attended Hinsdale High School for two years and then graduated from Wheaton Academy in 1940. He attended Wheaton College until the attack of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on December 7 ^th , 1941. After working at International Harvester for a couple of months to support the family and a hospitalized father, he enlisted in the Navy Air Corps as a cadet. After receiving flight training in various stations of the country he received his flight wings and commission as a Navy Ensign on February 15, 1944.

He was medically retired from the Navy on May 1, 1947. On June 15, 1947 he began a career of 35 years as an employee of Sears Roebuck and Company. He had many assignments in the pursuit of the retail business and retired on January 1, 1983.

During his career he lived with his family in Wheaton, Il., with the exception of time they spent in 3 foreign countries; Colombia (1955-1960), Spain (1969-1973) and Brazil (1977-1980).

After his wife of 54 years preceded him, he moved to San Antonio, Texas. He lived in a comfortable home and enjoyed spending time sitting on his back porch woodcarving and watching the birds and other natural habitat. To most of his friends and family he was known as Pat Sandin, a nickname started by his mother when he was a small boy.

He was preceded in death by his lovely wife Helen whom he married on February 19, 1944 and his son James Sandin (1947-2004). He is survived by three daughters, Linda Steele (Ron), Jennifer Olson (Dave) and Robin Sandin; seven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.