Lawrence "Sandy" Alexander Savage Jr.

Lawrence Alexander “Sandy” Savage Jr. passed peacefully in his sleep at home, Wednesday night, June 18, 2025. His loved ones are grieving the loss of a life well-lived.

Sandy was born August 8, 1932, the son of Lawrence A. Savage, Sr. and Sarah Margaret Livingston Savage of Camden and Columbia, SC.

Sandy was preceded in death by his third son, Thomas Motte Savage d. 1986; first wife, Marie Elinor Motte d. 2023; his third wife, Janice Rebecca Jones who died of cancer in 2000, and his sister, Catherine Savage Clifton d. 2021.

He is survived by his beloved, devoted wife of 24+ years, Linda Gaskins Savage; three sons, Lawrence Alexander Savage, III (Jackie), Arthur Phillips “Phil” Savage (Pam), and Kerrell “Kerry” Withers Savage (prev. Caroline Lindler); seven grandchildren, Sarah Callison (Reel), Rock Savage, Alec Savage, Savannah Clayton (Jared), Ali Savage, Ella Margaret Savage, Sam Savage; three great-grandchildren, Tee Callison, Wells Callison and Blakley Callison; his second wife, Audrey Meyer, with whom he remained friends, (and her two sons, Scott Tucker and Desi Strickland); his sister, Martha Savage Campbell and other relatives and lifelong friends whose lives were touched by Sandy – even his cat, Bagheera, will miss his ‘Papa’ dearly. Sandy will also be deeply missed by his devoted assistant of over 37 years, Jana Beaudrot who played an important role in Sandy’s personal life as well as his business life.

Sandy enjoyed a wonderful life growing up between Camden, SC and the family’s farm in Newberry, SC. He was going to Edisto even before he was born. He never lost his love for it, having homes on Edisto for most of his life. Sandy, along with four close friends acquired the property and established the Edisto Island Yacht Club in its current location.

Sandy treasured his family above all else. He taught his children about their ancestors and their contribution to the founding of our great country. Sandy was a member of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America (OFPA), as well as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts (AHAC) - the oldest chartered military organization in North America. Sandy’s eighth generation grandfather, Major Thomas Savage arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635 and married Faith Hutchinson (daughter of Anne Hutchinson, the leader of a religious controversy who was deeply involved with the settlement of Rhode Island in 1637). Major Thomas’ great-grandson, Samuel Phillips Savage, from Weston, MA, was chosen to be the moderator of the tea meetings at the Old South Meeting House where Samuel Adams launched the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Board of War during the revolutionary War. This respect for history led Sandy to become a diligent student of history whereby he gained numerous friends through his active involvement in military history clubs, etc. Sandy became especially knowledgeable concerning WWII history, which he enjoyed discussing with the other members of the Edisto Breakfast Club and The Edisto Codgers.

After graduating from the University of Virginia, Sandy served his country in Germany during the Korean War. Afterward, he obtained a Master of Business degree from Harvard Business School. He felt he had received the best education one could receive.

Sandy raised his sons on Lake Murray at the “Vagabond’s House.” He used to say that, with the lake, a home-made clay tennis court, horses, planes, boats, motorcycles, and all the other “toys”, his sons and their friends had no need to go elsewhere.

He possessed a rare entrepreneurial spirit that could not be sated. He, along with Marion Campbell and John Campbell, started Pioneer Steel Company and Pioneer Fence Company in 1959. He worked with his life-long friend Jim Hamilton to start Midlands Aviation at Owens Field in 1962. Along the way, he started and sold numerous other businesses, including American International Travel Service, Aqua Venture Dive Center (later Wateree Dive Center), and others.

In 1964, at the age of 32, Sandy became the South Carolina Nominee for the National Small Businessman of the Year Award, where he received recognition and commendation in Washington, D.C. from President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Although he was a successful entrepreneur, Sandy said that his real passion was teaching. Prior to going to work each day at Pioneer Steel Company, Sandy taught an early morning Business Policy class at the University of South Carolina. He also started a New Enterprise course in Small Business Management which he taught from 1959 to 1972.

After selling Pioneer Steel in 1979, Sandy began a career in environmentally sensitive real estate development. Among others, he created Spanish Hammocks near Savannah, Georgia and Jeremy Cay and The Hammocks on Edisto Island. In addition, he was one of the founders of the Edisto Island Open Land Trust.

Sandy had a life-long passion for flying, at times even commuting to work by airplane. He owned airplanes nearly all of his life. Even late in life, Sandy was an avid member of the United Flying Octogenarians (UFOs) and the CAE QBs. And, in August of 2017, Sandy received the coveted Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award with 76 years of piloting experience. He lived adjacent to a private airstrip lovingly referred to as “Edisto International Airport”, his inspiration, which allowed him and other members to come and go at will by airplane. He regularly flew his 13th Lake amphibian until he finally sold it in 2024.

Sandy was a lifetime member of the Nassau Yacht Club. He enjoyed a lifetime of boating in the Bahamas where he kept a 28’ Cigarette (off-shore speed boat), and later, a 51’ Formosa sailing ketch the “Private Island” where he and Linda could get away for long breaks from the hustle and bustle of business life. He and Linda would invite the children and grandchildren to join them for some treasured time sailing, fishing, scuba diving or just cooking out on deck, in a relaxing Caribbean setting.

Sandy said that his greatest accomplishment was his four sons. He possessed an immense love of life that shone through in almost everything he did - whether it was his love for traveling, his annual pilgrimage to ride his motorcycle along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the NC mountains or a trip to Germany with friends to ride motorcycles through the Alps. This passion never stopped. The last time he snow-skied down a mountain was on Snowmass Mountain near Aspen Colorado in January of 2019 at the ripe young age of 86 years. As many of his friends can attest, Sandy was a true Renaissance Man, a proud member of OFPA, SCV and an American Patriot.

In October of 1992, at the age of 60, Sandy was diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma and told he would not see Christmas. Not the type to just give up, he sought out the world leading authority on Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Dr. Paul Sugarbaker was able to give Sandy an additional 32 fabulous years of life. Five of Sandy’s seven grandchildren and all three of his great-grandchildren were born in the last 32 years. The family is forever grateful to Dr. Paul Sugarbaker for saving Sandy’s life, making him the longest survivor of Peritoneal Mesothelioma and giving hope to so many around the world. The family is also thankful for his Charleston physicians for providing excellent care and ensuring that Sandy was able to get the most out of those extra 32 years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of the Colleton County Animal Shelter, 33 Poor Farm Road, Walterboro, SC 29488.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in Elmwood Cemetery, 501 Elmwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201. The family is in the process of planning a Celebration of Life at a later date on Edisto Island. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family.