In memory and appreciation: Ed Sands, a Calvert Woodley co-founder and a great neighbor

Michael and Ed Sands (Calvert Woodley photo)

Ed Sands, a co-founder of Calvert Woodley Wines & Spirits, died on April 22nd. He was 84 years old.

“It’s hard to put into words exactly how much he means to me, my family, and so many others, but to say he will be missed is an understatement,” Sands’ son, Michael, wrote in an email to Calvert Woodley customers.

In many ways, the business Ed Sands built is a tribute to the man he was. Calvert Woodley is one of the neighborhood’s greatest ambassadors. Its renowned wine collection and knowledgeable and friendly staff draw customers from all over the area. That doesn’t happen by accident. Nor does the loyal following Calvert Woodley has developed among customers and employees alike. Some staff members count their years with the business in decades.

Sands was an early believer in Forest Hills Connection and our mission to put the neighborhood on the map (though Calvert Woodley already did). He was also an active booster of Van Ness Main Street’s efforts to aid small and local businesses, providing sponsorships as well as food and drink for VNMS functions over the years.

Ed Sands with the first VNMS executive director, Theresa Cameron, in 2018

We’re certain you have stories to tell, too. And we leave you with Michael Sands’ loving tribute to his dad, in full:

It’s with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Ed Sands. It’s hard to put into words exactly how much he means to me, my family, and so many others, but to say he will be missed is an understatement.

My father had many accomplishments in his personal and professional life, of which I’m sure he would say his family is at the very top of that list. His four children and seven grandchildren were his passion, and his family gave him strength and joy.

As words are hard to come by in this moment, I’d like to reference a piece I wrote in 2016 commemorating my father reaching 50 years in the wine business.

My father was born and raised in Brooklyn during the Jackie Robinson-led heyday of the Dodgers, and worked on Wall Street for a short time before moving to DC to work at the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was at this time that he met my mom, Bonnie, a DC native whose father was in the grocery business. They married in 1964.

My grandpa opened Woodley Supermarket, located on Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park in the 1940s. Nearly 20 years later, when a nearby market called Spund’s was closing, my grandpa talked with my dad about opening up a liquor store in that location, to complement the grocery store. Being young and adventurous, my dad left the SEC and Woodley Wine & Liquor was born.

Fast forward to 1982, when Woodley merged with Calvert Liquors and moved up the street to our current location. Through the years, Calvert Woodley has received a number of awards, including being named one of the 10 Best Wine and Liquor Stores in the US by Beverage Dynamics magazine in 1992. Twenty years later, in 2012, my dad was named Retailer of the Year by Market Watch magazine, a huge honor and big thrill.

My dad has taught me a lot, but right near the top of that list is that personal relationships and how you treat people are key. Relationships with our customers, employees, suppliers, they’re all important. At the end of the day I’m going to look back and think about all the people I met along the way and the experiences I’ve had, more so than money, awards, and press clippings. I know my dad feels the same way.

Rest easy, dad.

— Michael Sands