Sanford "Sandy" Miller

Sanford "Sandy" Miller, 72, of Ormond Beach, Florida, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and respected business leader, passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, August 26, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Sandy is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Mary; his children, Daniel (Erin), Meghan, Sarah, and Kevin; his brother David Miller (Ruth Ann); his grandchildren, Grayson and Quinn; sisters-in-law Barbara Sue Miller and Kathleen Fischer; and many extended family members, including many nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews, as well as dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Morris Miller; mother, Esther Miller; and brother, Melvin Miller.
Born in 1953 in Syracuse, New York, Sandy was the youngest of three sons of Esther and Morris Miller. From a young age, he demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit, a tireless work ethic, and a gift for connecting with people – qualities that would define his remarkable life and career. He attended Central Technical High School before enrolling at the State University of New York at Oswego in 1971, where he met his future wife, Mary. Sandy married the love of his life, Mary, in 1979.
Thanks to Mary, Sandy began his career in the car rental industry in 1976 as a management trainee at Avis Car Rental in Providence, Rhode Island. What would be a lifelong journey in the car rental business continued in 1980, when Sandy purchased the Budget Rent a Car franchise in Daytona Beach, FL. In 1987, Sandy co-founded TEAM Rental Group, which he led as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In 1994, Team Rental Group raised $31 million in an initial public offering on NASDAQ. By 1996, when Ford Motor Company decided to divest itself of Budget Rent a Car Corporation, Team Rental Group accounted for nearly 20% of the Budget Rent a Car System's total revenue and was uniquely positioned to acquire the entire company, which it successfully did in 1997. By 1998, TEAM Rental was known as Budget Group, was listed on the NYSE, generated annual revenues in excess of $2 billion, and operated a fleet of more than 300,000 vehicles.
Throughout the years following his tenure with Budget Group, Sandy's leadership in the travel/transportation industry included involvement with companies such as: U-Save Car and Truck Rental, Franchise Services of North America, Carey International, Europcar Groupe and Advantage Rent a Car.
Sandy's entrepreneurial vigor extended beyond car rental, however. He co-founded three community banks (Tomoka State Bank, Peninsula Bank, and Gateway Bank), all of which would grow to be significant players in the region and successfully be sold to larger banks looking for a strong foothold in the Central Florida market.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sandy will be remembered for his generosity, warmth, and deep devotion to his family and community. He was much more than a respected businessman – he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His warmth, generosity, and sharp sense of humor filled every room he entered. He had a gift for making people feel welcome, whether they were lifelong friends, business colleagues, or someone he'd just met. His many passions included boating, playing tennis, golfing, collecting classic cars, and drinking a cold beer or glass of Prosecco. He will be missed tremendously.
A service to celebrate Sandy's life will be held at 10 AM on Friday, August 29th, 2025 at Temple Beth El, 579 N Nova Rd, Ormond Beach, FL 32173. Interment will immediately follow at Daytona Memorial Park, 1425 Bellevue Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. A Reception gathering will follow at Oceanside Country Club, 75 N Halifax Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32176. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association or Temple Beth El of Ormond Beach.