Sandy Speier Klein, Speaker

Sandy Speier Klein was born in the Bronx and raised in Washington Heights.  Sandy spent her entire adult life in the field of Psychiatric Social Work, first as a line worker, then as a supervisor and finally as the Associate Director of Social Work at New York State Psychiatric Institute.  The last 10 years of her career were at New York University Silver School of Social Work where she was a Clinical Associate Professor.

Sandy credits her Parents for inspiring her career choice.    Paula and Herman Speier were immigrants.  They were not JUST immigrants:  they were holocaust survivors.  Their life experiences were part of the reason Sandy was attracted to working with and empowering the disenfranchised people in our communities who do not have a strong voice and who need our help.  Paula and Herman’s resilience and ability to rebuild their lives from nothing was inspirational.

Sandy tells two stories:  that of her mother and, in addition, the story of Sandy’s search for her half- brother.  She is beginning to write the story of her father as well.

Sandy is married to Sam Klein, also a child of survivors.  They have two children, Heather, an Attorney, who specializes in Corporate Immigration, and Gabriel, who is currently doing a residency in Plastic Surgery.  The inclination to help others has carried into another generation. In 2018, Heather and her husband Mike gave the family the best present of all:  their son Ethan Pierce.