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Cause still unknown in death of ‘Sandy Z’

By Emma Breysse, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Date: October 16, 2012

The Teton County Coroner’s office has yet to determine the cause of death for a Wilson man who died Sunday while hiking on Mt. Glory.

Coroner Kiley Campbell identified the man Monday as 73-year-old Alexander “Sandy” Zvegintzov.

Better known as Sandy Z, or Z, thanks to his hard-to-pronounce last name, Zvegintzov lived more than 30 years in Jackson Hole and distinguished himself in a number of careers.

He died of a “medical episode” while hiking with his girlfriend, Campbell said. An autopsy to identify Zvegintzov’s cause of death had yet to be completed as of press time.

Emergency responders worked Sunday to revive Zvegintzov at the scene, but a Teton County Sheriff’s Office press release said he never responded to their efforts.

During his time in the valley, Zvegintzov was a lawyer, a river guide and a ski instructor before attending the University of Wyoming at age 50 to become a painter.

His work covered a wide variety of media, but he was best known for the landscapes he created based on his many travels. His trips encompassed much of the American West and the Eastern Seaboard, culminating with a two-year solo sailing trip through the Caribbean.