DR. ROBERT SANFORD Sr.

Dr. Robert “Alex” Sanford, Sr., died on October 17, 2013. He was 72. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Martha Sanford; five children, Dr. Louie Lundy Roberts (Brooke) of Houston, TX; Margaret “Tedie” Cole (Chance) of Fort Smith, AR; Robert Alexander Jr. (Susie) of Fayetteville, AR; Sydney Marie Sanford and Kathryn Nicole Sanford, both of Memphis, TN. He leaves nine grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Cox of Little Rock, AR. For nearly 30 years, Dr. Sanford, a pediatric neurosurgeon, saved the lives of many children with brain tumors and other neurologic problems. He founded the pediatric surgical brain tumor program at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital a collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute. It is now the largest program of its kind in the country. He served as director of the Neuroscience Unit at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and chief of pediatric neurosurgery at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He was also a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Sanford was beloved by physicians, residents, staff, patients and families alike for his talent, dedication, tough love and most of all for his heart for saving children’s lives. He received many accolades and honors throughout his lifetime. In 2010 he was honored by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery as recipient of the Franc Ingraham Award for distinguished service. He was one of fewer than 10 neurosurgeons ever bestowed this high honor. In 2012, he was honored by the Memphis Business Journal with the Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2007, Dr. Sanford was honored as a Health Care Heroes finalist in the physician category. Born in Connecticut, Dr. Sanford graduated from Hendrix College in 1963 and the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1967. He completed an internship at the University of Minneapolis and residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He also served in the U.S. Army for two years as a neurosurgeon during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Dr. Sanford’s dedication and hard work won the respect of his medical colleagues throughout the country. He served on the pediatric section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons board for 12 years and served as the organization’s secretary. He was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Pediatric Section, American Medical Association, Central Medical Society, Memphis Neuroscience Society, Memphis Journal Review Club, Memphis and Mid-South Pediatric Society, Congress of Neurological Surgeons and others. Dr. Sanford published more than 100 medical papers throughout his career in addition to regular presentations and speeches at national neurosurgery meetings. Thanks to Dr. Sanford’s vision, the brain tumor surgical program now has approximately a 90 percent resection (or removal) success rate compared to a national average of 50 percent for certain types of tumors. Dr. Sanford’s stipulation in coming to Memphis required that the hospital accept any child who needed help regardless of his or her family's ability to pay. Dr. Sanford emphasized this same ethic in teaching upcoming neurosurgeons who continue to exercise this compassionate yet tenacious approach to pediatric neurosurgery. Even during the years he fought his illness, Dr. Sanford spent time teaching, advising residents and fellows and encouraging the staff and physicians to continue their mission of saving children’s lives. Dr. Sanford was a fun-loving, generous husband and father who enjoyed golfing, duck hunting, boating, and his farm in Arkansas. One of his greatest joys in life was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and telling stories -- lots of stories. Visitation will be on Sunday, October 20, from 5-7 pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis. The memorial service will be on Monday, October 21, at noon at Hope Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, Tenn. In lieu of flowers, Dr. Sanford requested that all memorials be sent to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital-Brain Tumor Program, PO Box 41817, Memphis, TN 38174. Memorial Park Funeral Home, "Behind the stone wall", 901-767-8930. Condolences may be offered at www.MemorialParkOnline.com