Red Cross Volunteer Honored for Decades-Long Endeavor

South Orange resident Sandra Spekman, a Red Cross volunteer for more than four decades, received the Diana Burn Rosen Volunteer Award at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting on June 22. 

Spekman is the first recipient of this annual award created in memory of Diana Burn Rosen. Mrs. Rosen, who passed away in February of this year, was a long-time Red Cross volunteer, who led the Adapted Aquatics program for decades.

“When we thought of who the first recipient of this special award should be, Sandy Spekman immediately came to everyone’s mind,” stated Christy Hodde, Colonial Crossroads Chapter executive director. “Sandy exemplifies the dedication, compassion, and quality of service that we wanted to recognize with the Rosen Award. They are qualities that everyone admired in Diana and we see them in Sandy as well.”

Several members of Diana Rosen’s family were in attendance: husband, Bill; son, David; daughter-in-law, Sarah; and three grandchildren. Every year, an Adapted Aquatics volunteer, who demonstrates outstanding commitment and dedication to the program, will be recognized with the Diana Burn Rosen Award.

For more than 41 years, Sandy has taught swimming in the Adapted Aquatics program to hundreds of people with special needs. Sandy earned her Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification as a high school senior in Oak Park, Michigan. WSI instructors are required to teach swim classes in order to keep this certification current. Sandy began teaching classes in the Detroit Adapted Aquatics program and continued after moving to the East Coast.

“When I learned of the Red Cross Adapted Aquatics program at the Summit YMCA (now The Connection for Women & Families) I became a volunteer teacher,” recalled Spekman.  

Adapted Aquatics is a unique swim program that teaches children and adults with special needs how to swim. The program is led by Red Cross-certified volunteers who provide individual swimming lessons that adapt the aquatic environment to meet their needs. Participants cope with a variety of physical, mental, emotional or neurological challenges.

Deaf since a young age, Spekman can well understand the challenges faced by those with disabilities. She relies on a hearing aid and cochlear implant for communication.

“One usually gets only 30% of what people say by lipreading. I work closely with Paula Coleman, (deck manager for the Adapted Aquatics program), who's easy to lipread.  Sometimes I wish more people could sign to me, such as manually sign their name or the student's name.  Some names, such as "Chris", are hard to lipread.  "Bob" is easier.  To understand this, look in a mirror, but do not use your voice.  Say these names, but without using your voice,” explained Spekman.

She sets an example for others by not letting deafness get in her way.

“I get a chance to work one-to-one with disabled children.  Everyone who attends this program has some problem or another; that's why they are there.  As a deaf person, I don't let my deafness stop me from anything.  I can read lips, so I can function fairly well in the water without my cochlear implant and hearing aid, which I can't wear, of course,” said Spekman.

Spekman has many special memories of her experience as a swim instructor for those with special needs. She recalls one time early in her career while teaching a woman named Helen who was hesitant about getting in the water.

“When I first started with her in the shallow water, and I tried to take her into the deep water, she cried a lot.  Everyone in the pool could hear her crying — but not me!  I didn't let her crying stop me from taking her into the deep water and she overcame her fear.  Now she can swim independently.  No one else attempted to do this but me — because her crying was a real turn-off.  It's great to see her keep herself afloat in the deep water, all by herself,” Spekman recalled proudly.

Outside of the pool, Spekman is a New York City teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. She works with students from first to 11th grade in 11 different schools in the Bronx.  During the summer, she enjoys traveling, theatre, hiking, biking and camping. She is also involved with community groups such as the Hearing Loss Association of America, Hadassah, and the Jewish Community Center. 

Spekman enjoys time with her family and counts her husband, Hyman, as her inspiration. “He says that I'm the busiest person that he knows!  Volunteering to help others is a great motivator.  I like to keep busy,” said Spekman. She and her husband have two children; a daughter, Rachel, and a son, Jeremy. Her children are grown and live in Boston and Singapore respectively.

“I’m glad I'm able to be a Red Cross volunteer for all the years that I have been,” said Spekman.

To volunteer for Adapted Aquatics or any other Red Cross program, please contact the Colonial Crossroads Chapter at 908-273-2076 x 25.

About the American Red Cross in your area:

Local Red Cross programs and services include disaster preparedness education and response services; life-saving skills training such as CPR, AED, First Aid, and water safety; armed forces emergency services, transportation and blood services.

The Colonial Crossroads Chapter has served the residents of Berkeley Heights, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Florham Park, Long Hill Township, Madison, New Providence, Springfield and Summit since 1917.  To find out more about the local Red Cross, how you can donate your expertise, time, money or blood; or to help your family, business, or community prepare for emergencies, please visit www.ccnjredcross.org.