George Sanford

Sanford, George
George MacGregor Sanford of Greenwich, CT, affectionately known by family and friends as "Bill", passed away on Monday, November 17, 2014. Bill died peacefully at the home of his daughter, Amanda Sanford Smith. He was 93. Bill was born at home in Yonkers, New York on March 4, 1921. He was the third child of Ella and Aubrey Sanford, and was pre-deceased by his sister Peggy and brother Gordon.
He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1939 and was a member of the Yale University class of 1943. He enlisted in the army after Pearl Harbor and served honorably as a First Lieutenant in the Pacific Theater. Bill married Eileen Burns of Saginaw Michigan, on May 20, 1946. Together they raised 6 children. Bill had an active business career, owning and operating the Weiss and Biheller Merchandise Corporation, purveyors of fine lighting fixtures. His business, in the pre computer era, took an enormous amount of time and effort. Yet, he still had time to pursue his other interests. He was an avid reader, gardener, and dessert chef. He enjoyed painting and collected bird prints. He delighted in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. Bill was a poet and writer of letters and loved receiving a well-crafted thank you note. He was a lover of Broadway musicals and would often burst into song, a true Scarsdale Galahad. When asked about his long life and hopes for his future, he said he would gladly have another mousse au chocolat. Bill shared 65 years of marriage with Eileen Burns Sanford, who pre-deceased him in 2011.
He is survived by Kate and David Fentress of South Dartmouth, MA, Deborah and Peter Knight of Weston, MA, Peter and Tinker Sanford of Greenwich, CT, Christine and William Crawford of Meridien, MS, Amanda and Robert Smith of Danvers, MA, Megan and Robert Greenawalt of Flourtown, PA, and 10 grandchildren.
A service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 11am at St. Catherine of Siena in Riverside, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent Neighbor to Neighbor, a nonprofit organization serving residents in need throughout the Greenwich area.