Sanford I. Drucker, 91, of Ojai, passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2011, with his wife, Christine, by his side. He was born Dec. 20, 1919, in Chicago, Ill., and was a Ventura County resident for 32 years, coming from Los Angeles.
Sanford was the eldest of four children of Morris and Rose Grinstein Drucker of Oak Park, Ill. Following graduation from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1938, Sanford attended Wright Junior College. He quickly became a leader in the Chicago Four Year City College campaign, which eventually led to the renewal and expansion of the City Colleges of Chicago. Always one to fearlessly push ahead on projects close to his heart, he personally enlisted both Eleanor Roosevelt and Senator Paul Douglas in the campaign.
In June 1941, Sanford enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the Fourth Infantry. He served in the Aleutian Campaign, where he engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese Imperial Troops who had occupied the islands. He was one of the few survivors of his battalion. He was badly wounded and vowed that he would spend his life working to make the world a better place for future generations.
In 2003, he wrote of this experience in the book Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body and Soul, in his chapter entitled "Mending the Body, Healing the Soul." Following the war, Sanford attended Stanford University, where he was the first Jewish member of Theta Xi fraternity. His roommate was Frank Church, future senator from Idaho.
Sanford graduated in 1947/1948 and remained a lifelong Stanford fan. Following college, Sanford moved to Los Angeles and began a distinguished career as a stockbroker and investment banker. He rose through the ranks at Bateman Eichler, and served on their board of directors. He married Ellen Rosenblum of Chicago and they had three children: Stacy, Lee and Douglas. Ellen passed away in 1969.
In 1979, Sanford purchased the Circle B Boy Scout Camp, a remote ranch in the backcountry near Ojai. He renamed it Rainbow Valley Ranch, and enthusiastically embraced the challenges of living in a historic log cabin in a pristine valley. An intrepid explorer, he "followed his bliss" in the 1980s and traveled extensively in Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, Mexico, and the South Pacific. He loved to tell stories of his adventures, including becoming blood brother with Tongan Nobleman Hon. Fakafanua Kinikinilau Lelea 'a Fafine.
In 1988, Sanford married Christine Towne Hartley and they made Ojai their home. Sanford founded the Living Treasures of Ojai program in 1994, and nurtured it until it was officially adopted as a Rotary International Program. His inspiring statement of purpose can be found under History of Living Treasures at: http://www.rcolt.org/Living%20Treasures%20Archives/index.htm. Sanford also became an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #11461 in Ojai/Oak View. Sanford, Chuck Bennett and Dave Pressey collected members' stories and published two books, which were endorsed by Tom Brokow and Senator Bob Dole: Ojai Valley's Veterans Stories (2002), and Veterans' Stories of Ventura County (2006).
The students at Topa Topa Elementary School, under the leadership of Maggie Cermanaro, filmed Sanford for the Library of Congress Stories of Service Project. Sanford was also active in the Ojai Valley Retired Men's Club, Temple K'hilat Ha'Aloneem, Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of Ojai, where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. In 2000, Sanford and his wife Christine were chosen as Ojai's Co-Citizens of the Year.
Sanford is survived by his wife, Christine, Ojai; daughter, Stacy Drucker-Andress (husband Ross), Santa Rosa; son, Dr. Lee Drucker (wife Judith Pulliam), Portland, Ore.; son, Dr. Douglas Drucker (wife Gloria Cunha), San Jose; grandsons, Ryan Andress and Erick Andress, Santa Rosa; grandson, Gavin Drucker, San Jose; granddaughter, Maya Drucker, Portland, Ore.; granddaughter, Natalie Drucker, San Jose. He is also survived by his sister, Trudy Kallis (husband Albert), Los Angeles; brother, Gilbert Drucker (wife Rissa), Woodland Hills. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joe Drucker (wife MaryLynn), Culver City. He is also survived by ten nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their deep appreciation to the staff and caregivers of the Gables of Ojai, who provided Sanford with loving comfort and care for the last three and a half years of his life. Sanford loved the Gables, and would regularly roll through the rose gardens on his red scooter chair, greeting residents with a cheery "Ciao, babes!"
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13, at Temple K'hilat Ha'Aloneem, 503 W. El Roblar, Meiner's Oaks. A reception will follow at the Gables of Ojai, 701 N. Montgomery, Ojai. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to Rotary Club of Ojai Living Treasures, c/o Dr. Fred Fauvre, 1320 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements under the direction of Reardon Funeral Home, 757 East Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Amy Thiele
January 24, 2011
Chris I am so happy to have had the pleasure of helping take care of Sandford at the Gables I will miss his spunk and " How's the gal" my answer " Pretty O.K" his comment "Good answer".
Carol Rizzolo
January 22, 2011
A beautiful expression of love.
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