PLATTSBURGH — Sandy and Ken Lushia had one of those relationships that passed the test of time.

Childhood sweethearts who first met as friends at age 10 and eventually developed a romantic relationship as seniors in high school, the couple married a few months after graduating from Northern Adirondack Central School.

The newlyweds struggled financially over those first few years of marriage as they began to raise a family, but they both eventually moved into successful careers and nurtured an ever-strengthening relationship built on love, support and commitment.

Tragically, that relationship met the ultimate challenge earlier this year when Sandy died in a violent automobile crash.

Devastated from the loss of his soulmate, Ken could have given up all hope for happiness again.

But he would not abandon his dedication to his bride and lifelong companion and was determined to continue her legacy of providing hope for those battling alcohol and drug addiction.

COLLEGE DREAMS


"After Sandy died, I struggled finding something to do to memorialize her," Ken said from the porch of the West Chazy house that he recently purchased and plans to turn into a bed and breakfast.

"I met with (County Administrator) Mike Zurlo, and we discussed various options. He's the one who asked me, 'Have you thought about Clinton Community (College)?' And I said, 'No, but that would be perfect.'"

Sandy Lushia had always planned to go to college after high school and had actually registered for the 1972 school year at Clinton. But a family logging accident on the very day she attended college orientation changed her immediate plans.

She and Ken married in January the next year, and any desire to attend college was put on hold as she stayed home to start a family. She raised their two young boys while Ken worked at Imperial Mill in Plattsburgh.

"She was always going to go to school, there's no doubt about it," Ken said. "All through high school, she was at the top of her class and always studied very hard."

BACK TO CLASS


When their youngest son entered school, Sandy decided it was time to return to her studies and registered at Clinton to study human services.

"She had seven siblings, and the oldest was 11 months older than Sandy. While the oldest girl was doing a lot of the outdoor work (on the farm they grew up on), Sandy was taking care of her brothers and sisters and helping out in the house.

"She enjoyed helping her mother and learned that she wanted a career where she could help others."

That decision translated into decades of community effort with Clinton County Alcoholism Services, where she collected accolades from her superiors, peers and clients.

TOUCHED LIVES


"One of the things she loved to do was educate," Ken said. "She'd go around and give these training sessions for adult children of alcoholics. She loved helping others."

Sandy always took a professional approach to her career and would never discuss her clients with Ken. But even after her death, he would continue to learn more about the services she provided for the community.

"I'd have people come up to me that I knew but didn't know they were in the recovery program with Sandy. They went out of their way to tell me how much she helped them straighten their lives around. It really touched me hearing that."

TOGETHER TIME


Several years after Sandy graduated, Ken decided to return to school, as well, and enrolled in the business administration program at Clinton. He would eventually change careers and became a union representative for the Civil Service Employees Association.

Even when their busy careers were in full bloom, the couple remained close, finding time to bicycle together whenever they could, including vacations to Florida, where they enjoyed the bike routes created on abandoned railway beds.

It was a relationship made in heaven, even though the change from friendship to sweethearts took a little detour in high school.

"We were getting close to the senior prom, and I asked her if she'd go with me," he recalled. "She told me that she would go out with me, but she had already promised to go to the prom with Terry Rabideau and would not break that date."

He and Rabideau would remain lifelong friends up to Rabideau's death a few years ago and would often joke about how Ken and Sandy eventually became so much more than just friends.

PARTING WAYS


More recently, the Lushias had been getting involved in other activities, including square dancing and Ken's foray into singing with the Cumberland Bay Barbershoppers.

"We went to a Christmas concert, and the Barbershoppers always ask the crowd if anyone would be interested in joining," Ken said.

"Sandy said, 'Why don't you go for it? You love to sing.' And I did."

It was a Tuesday evening last March when Ken had practice with the Barbershoppers, and he and Sandy decided to meet at Mainely Lobster and Seafood for supper before the session.

"It was a lovely meal with lovely conversation," he said of that night, describing how proudly his wife talked about recent renovations done to her office, how she had chosen the color of paint and was so excited about working there.

They said goodbye after the meal and went their separate ways.

When Ken headed home from Barbershoppers later that night, Route 374 was closed to traffic, and he wondered if there was a bad accident up ahead.

He took the detour and returned home to find that Sandy had not yet arrived. Inside, he received a call from his brother asking what was up because the State Police were trying to locate Ken.

"I didn't know anything, but a bad feeling came over me," he recalled.

Within two minutes, State Police pulled into the driveway and delivered the news that would change his life and the lives of countless North Country residents.

Those following days, weeks and months were difficult for Ken and for all of the couple's loved ones.

But with this new commitment to the Sandra M. Lushia Scholarship Fund for Human Services at Clinton, the memory of Sandy's affection will live forever.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com