Remembering Andrea Sax.

Unless you lived in Skokie or Morton Grove, Illinois, in 1977, 

ANDREA SAX

have a daughter born around 1961, or are you at 'that' age? The events of November 6th are probably not in your memory.

On November 6, 1977, for those who fit the criteria, Andrea Sax, a 16-year-old Niles West High School student, was brutally stabbed to death. The cause of death was 26 stab wounds to the neck and chest with perforation and laceration of the carotid artery and the aorta.

It's hard to believe 49 years have passed, and yet her three younger sisters are all older than Andrea ever was. The murderers of Susan Clark, who preceded Andrea in death, and of the two Morton Grove girls who were found in St. Paul Woods in Morton Grove about a year later, have not yet been found. 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MURDER

Sixteen-year-old Andrea Sax (my girlfriend) was stabbed to death on Sunday, November 6, 1977. Her body was found the next morning outside a school in neighboring Skokie, Illinois, next to a police station, where she was possibly attempting to run. Her Murderer was a classmate, Randall Kraman, whom she went to meet that night "just to hang out" with a friend. The savagery of the attack - 26 stab wounds - one piercing the aorta, plus evidence that showed premeditation, led to his being tried as an adult. In fact, his phone call at about 10:30 PM that night, asking where "Andy" was (a nickname only Randall Kraman used) began the nightmare that had never ended. He had already murdered her and was setting up an alibi! 

After court hearings that lasted approximately 10 months, the case was brought to trial, which lasted 5.5 weeks, from jury selection to verdict. It was now November 1978, one year later.

 

Sentenced to 16-20 years, we were told he would serve 11 years 8 months, but a change in Illinois' Class X Laws allowed him his freedom in fewer years than half of his minimum sentence. 

After his release, we know he moved to California. Rumor has it he later moved to New York City, where he became a Rabbi! God help us all!

ABOUT MY GIRLFRIEND, ANDREA SAX.

Andrea Sax and I dated the entire summer of 1977. I met her in '76 at the "Chai Club" (Chai [Hebrew] means "LIFE" in English as in "L'Chaim" meaning "To Life"; a famous drinking toast - or as we kids wrote it, ("Hi-Club"), which was a high school-age social club from Temple Beth El, located on Touhy at Kedzie (next door to the McDonald's). 

We were close friends, but not in an exclusive relationship. Just before school started in September (I attended Mather HS, Chicago, and Andrea attended Niles West), we discussed hanging out together. We saw each other several times, but only at Chai Club events in September.

Andrea Sax was a loving girl with a big heart. She was always willing to help anyone in need. The kind of person who gives their last dollar. Her parents were awesome, too. I was over many times for dinner and to hang out. 

I attended the funeral service. I just couldn't bring myself to go to the Sax's home while they were sitting Shiva (Shiva, literally means "seven" in Hebrew), which is the week-long mourning period in Judaism for first-degree relatives: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, and spouse. The ritual is referred to as "sitting shiva." I sent them a Beautiful, Giant-sized sympathy arrangement. (350 flowers)

I hadn't nurtured any new female friendships at my H.S. after that.

Thinking of Andrea, all the old feelings of sadness and anger (towards Randall, whom I did not know) and the senseless loss of a dear friend have resurfaced.

When My Prom Came, I took Andrea's best friend to my prom at the Playboy Tower, Chicago. Yes, it really happened. I found it difficult to enjoy. Tracy didn't seem to enjoy herself either. It was our depressed moods that ruined the night.

I didn't date from the time of Andrea's death until Junior year in College. And even then, dating was difficult. 

By Neil Gale, Ph.D.