He was born to parents Bruce O. & Mary T. Sanford on November 3rd, 1940, in Bay City, Michigan. Paul graduated from Melbourne High School and received his B.A. from the University of Florida (Phi Beta Kappa) and his J.D. in Law from Vanderbilt University. For a majority of his career, Paul worked hard for his clients and associates. He was well respected and loved by family, friends, and colleagues.
He married Mary S. Sanford, the love of his life, in 1959, who passed on June 28th, 2017. Paul is survived by his daughter Catherine R. Sanford and grandson Towns W. Sanford. His sister Marjorie Kovacevic (Nick) and brother Mike Sanford survive him along with their families.
Paul Sanford had more love than anything for family, friends, his work, the Blues, and the Florida Gators. He held season tickets for decades and attended every game possible. In February, he was able to finally go on a Blues Cruise which was on his bucket list for many years. Paul was a man of Honor, Honesty, Integrity, and Dignity. As well as working hard, he also loved attending Mass every Sunday at St. Paul Catholic Church where he was a member for 40 years, spending time with friends and family, reading his mystery novels, celebrating occasions, playing golf, watching sports of all kinds, taking time off to relax in Vermont, and much more. His number one priority, though, was always family.
Paul worked hard his entire life being an attorney and lobbyist. Although his primary residence was in Jacksonville, Florida, his love for the work he did and his friends in Tallahassee, Florida kept him traveling between the cities on a weekly basis for nearly four decades. Dedication to his craft earned him much respect and admiration from those who knew him not only as clients and business associates, but also as friends.
Paul joined the law firm Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay in 1975 in Jacksonville. He focused on commercial litigation with a primary emphasis on construction contract litigation and surety bond defense litigation. Paul was senior partner of the Rogers Towers Tallahassee office from 1980-2001, when he opened his own law office in Tallahassee. In recent years, the primary focus of his office was on financial services and insurance issues.
Paul Sanford participated in the rewrite of the entire insurance code during Sunset in 1982, and 1989-1993. From 1982-1994 he served on the Florida Insurance Council Board of Directors. In 1986-1989 he was the President of Consumers of Professional Services (COPS), which was a non-profit corporation representing the interests of the insurance industry. During 1989 Paul was elected president of the Florida Insurance Council, a state trade association representing approximately 240 insurers. In 1990 he was Appointed by Senate President Bob Crawford and served on the Florida Insurance Premium Tax Task Force, which reviewed the effects of the legislative changes to the premium tax statute and made recommendation to the Legislature. Then, in 2013 he was key leader of insurance industry team that defeated the repeal of the insurance premium tax salary tax credit supported by Senate leaders.
Until passing, Paul, along with his long-term business partner, Jane Hennessy, represented a myriad of insurance and business interests, including Florida Blue, JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Florida Insurance Council, FCCI Insurance Group, American Council of Life Insurers, Florida Life and Health Guarantee Association and Prime Therapeutics.
Paul cherished the time he spent with everyone he loved and cared about. He will be deeply missed by so many. He always used to say, “Don’t shed tears for me when I’m gone. I want there to be laughter and joy celebrating the fulfilled, blessed and meaningful life I’ve lived.”
Memorial Services will be held in Jacksonville, Florida at St. Paul Catholic Church, Riverside, on Park Street at 2:00pm on August 10th, 2019 with a Celebration of Life Reception to follow at 5:00pm at Hyatt Regency, East Coastline Drive.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to a charity of your choice.
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