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Michael Sandler, Trustee

Michael R. Sandler, W’62, a former University Trustee, died on December 29, 2020 from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 80.

Born in Portland, Maine, Mr. Sandler earned a BS in economics, marketing and finance from Penn’s Wharton School in 1962. After graduating, Mr. Sandler put his entrepreneurial skills to good use, building and selling several businesses. These included Marsan Industries, which merged with ITT Corporation, and Auto Parts Distributors, which was sold to Rite-Aid Corporation. From 1989 to 1991, he was a senior fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School, where he conducted research on the intersection of business, government and education. Later academic appointments included a position as executive-in-residence at the University of Southern California, 2006-2007, and a visiting fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, 2011-2012.

One of the founders of the education industry, Mr. Sandler founded several innovative companies that served the education market, including A Different September Foundation, Eduventures, and the Education Industry Foundation, where he continued to work until his death. He also served as president of the Education Industry Foundation, the CEO of the Education Industry Group and a senior advisor at the Parthenon Group. He was a member of the New American Schools Project, which helped to shape the national No Child Left Behind Act. In 2010, Mr. Sandler published the book Social Entrepreneurship in Education: Private Ventures for the Public Good; which traced the history of the education industry and his role in it.

Throughout his entrepreneurial exploits, Mr. Sandler (and his wife, Ellen Cooper Sandler, CW’62, a former member of the Graduate School of Education Board of Advisors) remained loyal to Penn. In 1964, Mr. Sandler founded the Penn Club of Portland (Maine); shortly afterwards, he launched a Boston-based Penn alumni network that was a model for later local networks of Penn alumni all over the country. Mr. Sandler took on several prominent roles in Class of 1962 reunion committees, including organizing the 1987 fundraiser that led to the installation of the iconic Ben on the Bench sculpture. In 2007, Mr. Sandler spearheaded Class of 1962 fundraising for the 37th Street walkway of Benjamin Franklin quotations; five years later, he served as the Gift Chair for the Class of 1962’s 50th reunion. In 1987, he wrote a manual on organizing class reunions that has served class reunion committees since.

From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Sandler served as a University Trustee. “When Mike joined the Board of Trustees in 1991, he had already spent decades leading various alumni efforts,” says Vice President and University Secretary Medha Narvekar. “We are also grateful for his and Ellen’s devotion and philanthropic support for a wide variety of efforts across the University, especially to Athletics, the School of Arts and Sciences, The Penn Fund, and scholarships, as well as their generosity as founding donors to The Penn Club of New York.” Mr. Sandler was a devout Red Sox fan, throwing out the first pitch at a game in 2010, and an enthusiast of all things Boston.

Mr. Sandler is survived by his wife, Ellen Cooper Sandler; three daughters, Marcy (Jim Janover), Susan, C’88 (Mike Brennan) and Amy; four grandchildren; his brother, Jerry (Kathy); and a niece and nephews. Due to current health restrictions, private services were held. A celebration of his life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Penn Fund at the University of Pennsylvania or a charity of the donor’s choice.

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