Laurence Sanford

1925 - 2017

Laurence (Larry) Sanford

Laurence (Larry) Sanford died Wednesday, December 20, 2017, peacefully at home in San Francisco.  He was born to Abe and Grace Skalowsky in Norfolk, Nebraska, May 26, 1925.
In 1943, just out of high school, Larry came through San Francisco en route to being stationed in the Aleutian Islands by the U.S. Army. He fell in love with the City and made a promise to himself to return as soon as he could to build a life here.  Before his return, he earned a degree from Northwestern University where he fell into a wonderful group of fraternity brothers from Phi Epsilon Pi.  Those men became life long friends, and he considered those days of camaraderie a formative time in his life.
Larry began as an acting student in Northwestern's legendary theater program but soon realized he was up against some serious talent, so he switched to the business school. This enabled him to return to San Francisco in 1951 to begin his career as a stockbroker.  He found early success when he pioneered the idea of selling life insurance stocks and created a boutique firm specializing in that niche, calling it Sanford & Co.  He also spent decades working at the distinguished securities firms Kidder Peabody, AG Becker, Blyth Eastman Dillon, and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette.  Larry had a special talent for selling municipal bonds and spent many years as a member of the San Francisco Bond Club.  He was a fixture on Montgomery Street for decades and loved it.
Larry loved calling San Francisco home.  It's where he met and romanced his future wife Ilene, where they were married in 1961 and where they enjoyed socializing and raising their family during their 47 years together. Until just earlier this year, Larry could be frequently seen walking, albeit slowly, the hills of his beloved Russian Hill neighborhood, smiling to everyone he passed, taking grateful deep breaths while remarking that our City's "champagne" air, as he called it, is better than anywhere.  
Larry was a gracious, charming man. He loved words. He quoted philosophical aphorisms with a twinkle in his eye.  He was a voracious reader. During his college years, he became enamored with the works of Honore Balzac and throughout his life read and re-read all of Balzac's novels.
Larry loved golf and enjoyed many decades of playing in all the best courses in Northern California.  He was a member of Lake Merced Golf Club for many years and also loved the beautiful courses in Pebble Beach.
His love and skill at the game of dominoes — especially the indigenous San Francisco form of the game, "Five-up," — was well known among dominoes circles in the City, particularly at the Bankers' and City Clubs where he played regularly. He cutely referred to the double-one domino piece as "two ducks on a pond." Larry played many tournaments over the years, proudly winning a few.
Larry is predeceased by his wife, Ilene Sanford, his brother Earl Sanford, and his great niece, Grace Magill.  He is survived by his son Guy Sanford, daughter Jaimie Sanford (Ted Storey), grandchildren Ella, Abe and Nathan Storey, Hannah Sanford, and niece Anne Magill (Jim). 
Services will be held at Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake Street, San Francisco, December 29th, 2017 at 4 p.m. Contributions can be made to Congregation Emanu-el, www.emanuelsf.org.