Winthrop W. Sanderson

SANDERSON, Winthrop W. Winthrop Whitney Sanderson, 91, of Huckleberry Hill Road, Avon, husband of the late Alice (Coombs) Sanderson died Sunday, (September 17, 2006) at McLean, Simsbury. He was born April 11, 1915 in Whately, MA son of the late Walter Whitney and Florence (Stearns) Sanderson and had lived in Simsbury prior to moving to Avon 16 years ago. He was a graduate of Greenfield High School, class of 1933 and Stockbridge School of Agriculture, class of 1937. He was a veteran of World War II, enlisting in the U. S. Army one day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served as Tank Commander in the 27th Tank Battalion, 20th Armor Division, Company B and was awarded the Bronze Star for action in Donauworth, Germany. He was appointed the Military Governor of Traunstein, Germany, achieving the rank of Captain. His unit was involved in the liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp. Mr. Sanderson was Director of Physical Plant from 1965 to 1980 at the University of Hartford, formerly the Director of Physical Plant from 1964 to 1965 at the University of Tampa and Physical Plant Administrator from 1946 to 1964 at the Northfield and Mount Herman Schools, Northfield, MA. He was a member of the Mechanics Lodge, Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 9 in Northfield, MA for 19 years in the 1950's and 1960's, a very active period of scouting in the Northfield troop and served as scoutmaster for the Hampshire/Franklin Council at the National Jamboree in Colorado Springs, CO in 1960. Mr. Sanderson was a Simsbury Hometown Hero in 1989, former Chairman for the Simsbury Building Committee, Past President of APPA (Association of Physical Plant Administrators) and served on various Church Boards at both First Church of Christ in Simsbury and Avon Congregational Church where he was a member. He is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Scot and Sherry Sanderson of Simsbury, Thomas Sanderson of Windsor, Mark and Kirsten Sanderson of Avon and Jim and Jackie Sanderson of Avon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and Cliff Miller of Middletown and Julie and Jim Bradford of Kalamazoo, MI; two sisters and brother-in-law, Virginia Gailus of Simsbury and Lorraine and Tom Dimeo of East Greenwich, RI; 12 grandchildren, Andrew Miller and his wife Rita, Sarah and Melissa Miller, Chris, Catey and Liz Bradford and Lauren, Leigh, Austin, Emma, Nick and Molly Sanderson and a great granddaughter, Sophia Isabella Miller. He was predeceased by an adopted son, Boris Ivanovitch Oblesow, a Russian orphan whom he brought to the U.S. following World War II after obtaining an act of congress. There are no calling hours. Funeral service will be Wednesday, September 20, 10 a.m. at Avon Congregational Church, 6 West Main Street, Avon with the Reverend Edward T. Falsey officiating. Private burial with military honors will be in Brookside Cemetery, South Deerfield, MA. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to McLean, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT 06070. Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury has charge of the arrangements.