Robert Carleton “Carl” Sanford, of Boynton Beach, Fla. and Damariscotta, passed away peacefully at Bethesda Hospital in Boynton Beach, Fla. on May 11.
He was born in New York City on Sept. 1, 1929, the son of Robert Leson and Genevieve Sullivan Leson Sanford Robertson; and the grandson of Eugene and Ida Sullivan (Eugene was the chairman of the board of Corning Glass and was chief chemist who helped discover Pyrex glassware).
After serving for four years, Carl was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1954 and went on to graduate from Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York. After graduation, he was employed by Hotel Corporation of America which sent him all over the U.S., including Lyford Cay in the Bahamas.
He opened the Rib Room in Boston, Mass., and while he was there he saw an ad in the Wall Street Journal for a restaurant named Saltwater Farm Pier, which he bought with his second wife, Katy Jackson Sanford, and ran it for 15 years. During the winters, he worked at various restaurants and for Sugarloaf Mountain on the ski patrol. He also worked at Bowdoin College for nine years where he ran the Moulton Union Cafeteria. He then accepted the position as executive director of the Maine Restaurant Association and helped to grow that organization, retiring in 1995.
An avid golfer, Carl played at several world renowned courses including the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral Golf Club, and PGA National in Palm Beach. He was also an avid tennis player and a cyclist, taking part in the Trek Across Maine for 18 years, and also cycled twice in Holland during tulip season. He and his wife, Drusilla French Sanford, enjoyed extensive travel to many foreign destinations. He attended all four of the major tennis tournaments, as well as Davis Cup Ties on a number of occasions. He reveled in his volunteer work for many years at the CLC YMCA where he also served on the board of directors, Miles Memorial Hospital, and docent duties at the Pemaquid Lighthouse.
Carl was predeceased by first wife, Patricia; second wife, Katherine (Katy) Jackson; and step-daughter, Tally Jackson Vinal.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Drusilla; son, Robert Sanford Jr. and wife Andrea of Ludlow, Vt.; daughter, Barbara Walling of Cape Cod, Mass.; stepchildren, Peter Jackson and partner Lucy Smith of Damariscotta, Bambi Jackson Hanna of Round Pond, Edward (Tug) Jackson and wife Jan of Salisbury, Mass., Kate Jackson Eaton and husband Jonathan of Damariscotta, and Frederick Brewer and wife Jessika Brooks-Brewer of Damariscotta; son-in-law, John Vinal and wife Lena of Edgecomb; sister, Holly Leson Giacalone of Delray Beach, Fla.; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held from 5-7 p.m., Fri., May 25 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home in Damariscotta. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Sat., May 26, also at the funeral home. A reception will follow the service at the CLC YMCA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Carl’s memory to the tennis program at CLC YMCA, PO Box 787, Damariscotta, ME 04543.
Condolences, and messages for his family, may be expressed by visiting StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
