THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996 TAG: 9608060304
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By TOM SHEAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 82 lines
Samuel Sandler, who built a small seafood business into a major food distribution company, died Monday at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He was 73.
A Norfolk resident, Sandler raised millions of dollars for civic, charitable and religious endeavors throughout the region. The range of his activities went beyond food wholesaling and philanthropy in Hampton Roads. Along with other family members, Sander had been active in real estate investing. Over the years, his holdings included large tracts of land in Chesapeake and on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
As a boy, Sandler delivered fish to Norfolk restaurants from his father's seafood stall in the old city market in downtown. After studying accounting at Virginia Tech and then serving in the U.S. Army in France during World War II, he rejoined the family business in 1945.
In a fiercely competitive business with slim profit margins, Sandler and his brother, Harry, broadened the product line of L.M. Sandler & Sons Inc. to frozen foods and expanded into new markets in other mid-Altantic states. Their company, which did business as Sandler Foods, eventually left downtown Norfolk for an ice plant and warehouse on Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach.
Arnold H. Leon, a Portsmouth attorney who worked with Sam Sandler on charitable activities, attributed the company's success to the determination, long hours and business acumen of family members.
``You could go by that plant at daybreak, and they would be at work. They didn't leave it to others to manage,'' Leon said. ``Also, they had a good feel for people's needs and they met them.''
Harry Sandler, who was active in real estate investing, left L.M. Sandler & Sons in the early 1980s. In 1989, Sam Sandler and sons Steven and Arthur folded the company's distribution operations into Consolidated Foodservice Cos, a joint venture they created with Sara Lee Corp. That part of L.M. Sandler & Sons distributed food and food-service products to restaurants, hotels, schools and other institutional customers.
In July 1995, Consolidated was merged into Sara Lee's PYA food-distribution subsidiary.
Today, L.M. Sandler & Sons owns Ocean to Ocean Seafood Sales, a Virginia Beach importer of frozen shrimp, and has interests in two home building companies, an apartment development company, a health-club chain, a land development company and a consumer credit company.
Known for his gruff demeanor and volatile temper, Sandler developed a widespread reputation for generosity.
``I don't think a day went by when he wasn't thinking about a way to help somebody else,'' said Marvin Simon, president of Sicash Builders Inc., a Virginia Beach-based apartment development concern.
``Sam didn't care whether he was recognized or not. He just wanted to get it done,'' Simon said.
Sandler contributed time and money to an array of community and health groups, including the Boy Scouts and Salvation Army. However, he devoted much of his energy to religious causes. He was an organizer of Temple Israel in Norfolk and was active in the Tidewater Jewish Federation, where he had served as president.
While overseeing Sandler Foods and various fund-raising drives, Sandler served for 20 years on the Norfolk Airport Authority board. Between 1987 and 1993, he was chairman of the authority.
``He took a keen interest in getting the financing and construction of two parking garages at the airport during the 1980s,'' said Kenneth Scott, the authority's executive director. ``He could develop a consensus among the commissioners, and he kept pushing for the interests of the airport.''
Sandler suffered a stroke Friday afternoon and never recovered, said Raymond L. Gottlieb, an advisor to L.M. Sandler & Sons.
The late chairman of L.M. Sandler & Sons Inc., who had undergone two kidney transplants since the early 1980s, had been hampered with health problems in recent years. However, Sandler's health had been improving in recent months, and he remained active in business, Gottlieb said.
``Sam was planning to open one seafood plant in Argentina and another in the Philippines,'' he said.
Sandler is survived by his wife Reba, son Steven of Virginia Beach, son Arthur of Norfolk, daughter Sheri of New York City, his brother Harry, and eight grandchildren.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m., today at the Sanctuary of Temple Israel in Norfolk. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Sam Sandler
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB