NAHRA Board Member, Editor of NAHRA News, Founding Member, Four Points Retriever Club | NAHRA Judge, Mentor and Leader
The NAHRA community mourns the loss of Sandy Zandlo, a longtime member whose contributions to our organization and sport spanned more than two decades.
Sandy understood what NAHRA founder Richard Wolters knew: that a well-trained hunting retriever is more than a companion—it's our most effective conservation tool. No bird should be left in the field. Through her decades of service to Four Points Retriever Club and NAHRA, Sandy helped ensure that philosophy remained at the heart of everything we do.
Sandy was among the founding members of the Four Points Retriever Club in 2003, helping establish one of the Upper Midwest's most active NAHRA clubs. Four Points drew its name from the geographic diversity of its founding members—spanning the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Alexandria, and Duluth—and Sandy's vision helped create a club built on the principle that every member plays an active role. Whether serving on hunt test committees, mentoring new handlers, or throwing birds from a boat in challenging conditions, Sandy exemplified the working member philosophy that continues to define Four Points today.
In 2001, Sandy served as Co-Chair of the NAHRA Invitational at Chichaqua Wildlife Area in Iowa. Dan Hove, who worked as a volunteer at that event, later recalled it as the experience that captured his passion for NAHRA: "… I knew this was the group of people I could learn from and they'd help me get the most out of my dog." That ability to inspire others and create welcoming, educational environments was one of Sandy's greatest gifts to our organization.
As a NAHRA judge, Sandy understood that her role extended beyond evaluating performances. She was there to uphold our standards, encourage handlers at every level, and preserve the hunting retriever traditions that NAHRA was founded to protect. Her fair and knowledgeable judging earned her respect throughout the organization.
Through her work at Cz Kennels in Anoka, Minnesota, Sandy maintained a daily commitment to retriever training and care. But perhaps her most lasting impact came through her mentoring. She freely shared her knowledge with anyone seeking guidance, helping develop countless handlers and working dogs who continue to uphold the standards she valued.
The Four Points Retriever Club continues to thrive and hosted the 2025 NAHRA Invitational—a testament to the strong foundation Sandy and her fellow founders established more than twenty years ago.
Sandy's legacy lives on in the NAHRA members she mentored, the club she helped build, and the standard of excellence and generosity she demonstrated throughout her years of service. The fields and waters where we test our dogs, the community she helped strengthen, and the hunting retriever traditions she worked to preserve all bear her mark.
Our thoughts are with Sandy's family, friends, and the many handlers and club members whose lives she touched.
The NAHRA community extends its deepest sympathies to all who knew and worked with Sandy Zandlo.
