Family of American hostage remember his humor, adventurousness

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The only American hostage killed in last week's deadly standoff at a Moscow theater had a contagious sense of humor and an adventurous soul, his family recalls. <br><br>``He was

Wednesday, October 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The only American hostage killed in last week's deadly standoff at a Moscow theater had a contagious sense of humor and an adventurous soul, his family recalls.

``He was a really good person, but to get to know the true him, you had to get to know him,'' Bonny Galbraith said as she, her mother, Jean, and her brother, Rick, looked at photographs of brother Sandy Booker on Tuesday.

Sandy Booker was one of the more than 100 captives killed last week after Russian special forces released gas into the theater to end a 2 1/2-day siege by Chechen rebels.

Sandy Booker went to Moscow to bring his Russian fiancee, Svetlana Gubareva, and her 13-year-old daughter to the United States.

The three were attending the musical ``Nord-Ost'' when the separatists armed with weapons and explosives stormed the theater filled with hundreds of spectators.

It was not the first time Sandy Booker had been to Russia. Images of him standing in front of a Russian landmark during a previous trip, as well as a picture of Sandy Booker with his daughter at an awards assembly were among the photos spread out on Galbraith's kitchen counter.

Rick Booker told The Daily Oklahoman that the family does not know when the body will be returned to the United States. Relatives are awaiting more information from Washington before making funeral arrangments.

A nine-hour time difference between Oklahoma City and Moscow has made communication with the U.S. Embassy difficult, they said.

Rick Booker remembered his brother as a strong-willed man who loved his siblings, his mother and his daughter.

``He's a person I could always depend on if I needed something,'' Rick Booker said. ``He was always helpful to people who needed help.''

Sandy Booker worked as an electrician at the Oklahoma City General Motors Assembly Plant, where co-workers wore red, white and blue ribbons on Tuesday to honor him.