Meet Your Neighbor
Miguel Sandoval
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Date of birth: July 16, 1965

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

Hobbies: Working in the house

and yard, being with family

Likes best about Nantucket:

The close community

Likes least about Nantucket:

Nothing. Not even wintertime

Favorite TV show: "Two and a Half Men" Miguel Sandoval's story is one of joyous success showing how people can improve their lives by appreciating opportunites and dedicating themselves to making the most of them. Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, Sandoval came to the United States when he was 18 after being invited to stay with his best friend's family in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He began working in the restaurant of a Del Ray Beach country club soon after Nantucket Island Resorts owner Stephen Karp finished a two-year renovation of the Wauwinet. When the club's general manager was asked to come to Nantucket in 1988 to open the Wauwinet, he invited Sandoval to work in Topper's primarily as a busman.

"I just fell in love with the island and there were so many interesting people I had a chance to meet," he said. "I was one of those people who come to visit and never leave."

Because the Wauwinet is a seasonal resort, Sandoval returned to Florida to work in the winters at first. He also realized that the fact that his primary language was Spanish did not pose a problem in Florida with its large Spanish-speaking population, but he needed to learn fluent English for life on Nantucket. He mastered the language by listening to and conversing with others. At the same time he started receiving promotions at Topper's, first to waiter then to maitre d'. In 1994 he decided to make the island his permanent home, sold his car and arrived on the island with $20 in his pocket. Fortunately, NIR supplied housing and food stipends, so Sandoval was able to establish himself.

After 19 years at Topper's, this year Sandoval was named morning restaurant manager at the White Elephant's Brant Point Grill, and management threw a special surprise party for him in October to celebrate his two decades with the company.

"Because of them I am here and could have some of my dreams come true," he said.

The year he moved here, he married his wife Josie, a native of New Zealand. They have daughters Amanda, 11, and Nicole, 9, who are both Nantucket natives.

"This is my home," he said with pride. "We've been in other places but there is really no place like Nantucket to raise a family."

In 2000 Sandoval's mother moved to the island. His two younger brothers and two younger sisters are still in Colombia, but will move to America as soon as their immigration papers are finalized. Having his family reunited pleases Sandoval, as does his major accomplishment of being an island homeowner. By scrimping, saving and working hard for the past 10 years, Sandoval was first able to purchase a modular home and rent rooms to help pay the mortgage. Later, after he bought a second home just for his family, he began renting the entire first house to provide income.

Though he has made a success of himself over the years, it has not come easily. In the off-season when Brant Point Grill is closed, Sandoval attends to maintenance on the property and also works at Company of the Cauldron as a waiter. But Sandoval treasures his family, and no matter what season of the year it is he makes certain he is off on Sundays so they can spend time together. Right now, his life is full and gratifying and he can only think of one dream for the future.

"I would like to retire in New Zealand. My wife is very happy about that," he said. "It is so relaxing there. Even though Nantucket is a great place, you have to work all the time. I've been to New Zealand five times

and it's lovely." I