DATE: Sunday, May 11, 1997                  TAG: 9705110040

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TOM SHEAN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   62 lines

REBA S. SANDLER, FOOD COMPANY OFFICIAL, DIES

Reba Salzberg Sandler, a Norfolk native who played a key role in the management of food distributor L.M. Sandler & Sons Inc., died Saturday after an illness. She was 73.

Mrs. Sandler had been instrumental in the expansion of the family-owned company from a seafood stall in downtown Norfolk to a distribution firm with $160 million in annual sales and 500 employees before part of it was sold.

She had retired from L.M. Sandler & Sons as its secretary and a member of its board.

``There wasn't a check that went out of this office that she didn't sign or see,'' said Raymond L. Gottlieb, an adviser to the company.

Mrs. Sandler's ties with the company dated to the early 1940s, when her future husband, Samuel Sandler, left to serve in the Army during World War II. She helped his parents at their downtown Norfolk business by keeping the books. At that time, she also taught mathematics at Norview High School in Norfolk.

She and Sam Sandler were married in 1946. Her husband died last August.

From a stall in the old City Market in Norfolk, the company eventually moved to a warehouse and office complex in Virginia Beach. The company's food-distribution unit, which traded as Sandler Foods, acquired several rivals in Hampton Roads and neighboring states.

``There's no question that major (business) decisions took place around Mrs. Sandler's kitchen table - with her there,'' Gottlieb said.

``If you came up with what you thought was a great idea, you still had to convince her.''

Mrs. Sandler remained active in the company's management until 1989, when the family formed a joint venture with Sara Lee Corp. to own Sandler Foods.

Two years ago, Sandler Foods was folded into Sara Lee's food-distribution subsidiary, PYA/Monarch. L.M. Sandler & Sons continues to do business in seafood and to handle family investments.

Like her late husband, Mrs. Sandler had been active in several charitable, cultural and religious activities in the region. She served on the boards of the Virginia Symphony and Norfolk State University and was active at raising funds for the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk.

Joyce Strelitz said she and her husband, Leonard, had been inspired by Mrs. Sandler's determination, especially in her civic and religious endeavors.

``Reba never thought a lot about recognition for herself, yet she was a very strong, forthright person,'' Joyce Strelitz recalled. ``She and Sam were inseparable in their contributions to the Jewish community, to Israeli causes and to health causes.''

Mrs. Sandler had been active in the Temple Israel in Norfolk and was honored as the temple's Woman of the Year. The Israel Bond Organization recognized her with its Golda Meir award for service in the Jewish community.

She is survived by a daughter, Sheri Cyd Sandler of New York City; two sons, Steven B. Sandler of Virginia Beach and Arthur B. Sandler of Norfolk; eight grandchildren; and a brother, Bernard Salzberg.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at the sanctuary of Temple Israel with burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments in Norfolk is handling the arrangements. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Reba Salzberg Sandler's ties to distributor L.M. Sandler & Sons

Inc., which began in Norfolk, dated to the early 1940s. KEYWORDS: OBITUARY DEATH

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