Maurice "Red" Sandler's Obituary
Maurice (fondly known to all as Red), a native of Newport News, VA, a resident of Fords, NJ for fifty-one years, and a permanent resident of Estero, FL since 2007, Maurice passed away on May 15, 2015 at Healthpark Medical Center in Ft. Myers. At age 17, Maurice enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees. His unit comrades called him the “kid on the block” since the majority of them were almost twice his age. One of their assignments was to make a clearance on the island of Saipan, building an airfield for the incoming naval and marine fighter aircrafts. The trick, of course, was first to clear out the Japanese. This was truly a typical Seabee “Can Do” project, which they did well, earning the Seabee title of the “Unsung Heroes.” Maurice always remembered the day they all watched the Enola Gay passing overhead from Tinian Island on its way to drop the atom bomb on Japan. After completing his education in Virginia, Maurice moved to Newark, NJ. He attended and graduated from the New York School of Mechanical Dentistry. Through a friend, he became interested in vending machines and in 1976 opened and operated his own company, Sandy’s Vending Service, for many years until his retirement. Thereafter, as a favor to a friend, he took a part-time job in Loss Control at Chanel, Inc., which lasted eighteen years until his move to Florida. During the 70’s, Maurice served at the Beth Israel, Edison, NJ Chapter of B’nai B’rith as Program Vice President. In the 80’s and 90’s, he was Third Commander of the Veterans Seabee Unit Island X-1, Red Bank, NJ. Here in Florida, he was a member of the Veterans Seabee Unit Island X-8, Fort Myers. In 2008, Maurice became a volunteer at the Healthpark Medical Center until, in 2012, his physical inability caused him to leave. We hold dear the thought that David Bruce, our son who passed away in 2005, will meet up with his dad. Maurice leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Leona, of sixty-three years; daughter, Sheryl Ann of Fort Myers and her life partner, Larry Hjort; grandson David Nichols of AZ; granddaughter, Shannon Griffin of GA and her family, husband Patrick, great granddaughter Hayley and great grandson Declan; nephew Elliot Shimkowitz of Crystal Falls, MI and spouse Susan; Steven Shimkowitz of Avon, CT and spouse Veda; niece Wendy Schwartz of Tolland, CT; niece Michele Anderson of Chandler, AZ and spouse Duane; nephew Donald Stapleton of Brookland, TX and spouse Duanda; niece Gail Lynn of St. Petersburg, FL; nephew Mark Brusiloff of St. Petersburg, FL; niece Dawn Najera of Tampa, FL; lifelong best friend William Ellis of Sarasota, FL; as well as grandnieces, grandnephews and great grandnephews. Maurice’s ashes will be interred in a vault at the veteran’s section of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens on May 29, 2015. There will be a brief ceremony in the Garden’s chapel officiated by Rabbi Bruce Diamond followed by the interment. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your pet charity.
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