Professor Robert "Bob" Sandler

Bob died peacefully after a very short illness - surrounded by his family & friends.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Bernice, children Jeffrey (Debbie) Sandler, daughter Ellen (Robert) Slane of Hollywood, Florida, grandchildren Julian (Maren) Slane, Amber (Chuck) Wadey and Eric Slane, 4 great grandchildren, Preston Slane, Hansen Slane, Lillian Slane, and Aurora Wadey. He is also survived by step children Janet Bearden, Barbara LaVoy, Ed Anapol and Howard Anapol, and grandchildren Erin Anapol, Jeremy Anapol, and Jocelyn and Gabe Ramos.

Bob was a native of Boston, MA, veteran of WWII from 1943-1945 serving in Europe during the Normandy Invasion. He was also a very active member of the Jewish War

Veterans for many years.

Bob graduated from Ohio University in 1949 with a BA in English.

He got his MA in English and American Literature in 1950 and completed

his PhD course work at Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1952. From 1953

to 1956. Professor Sandler taught English Literature at Northeastern University in Boston. He and his family moved to Miami in 1956 after receiving an offer for a position as

Professor of English at the University of Miami. He remained at U.M. until he retired as Professor of English Emeritus in 1990. During his 34 years at U.M. he introduced many Jewish content courses into the curriculum of the English Department, such as Jewish Literature, Biblical Literature and Literature of the Holocaust. He played a prominent role in the development of the Judaic Studies Program at the University of Miami and served as the Acting Coordinator until the program was officially promulgated by the University. He taught Adult Jewish Education courses in Jewish history, literature and philosophy, as well as courses in the Tanach and Talmud at various synagogues in the

Dade County area. His writings have been published in well known newspapers and

magazines. He has given lectures on a wide variety of Jewish topics all over South

Florida.

Bob taught his first of many Adult Education classes at Temple Beth Am in 1977 and

had remained an active participant in Shabbat morning Torah Study for all these years.

In April of 2010 Bob was honored as the co-recipient of the Temple Beth Am 2010 Talmud Torah Award, along with his dear friend George Bosin. He was also an active

member of a current events group at the Alper JCC for many years.

Until a few years ago, Bob and his wife traveled to Seattle to visit his grandchildren and great grandchildren and to celebrate births, graduations, and other family events. He loved tennis and was a very fine tennis player. He recently enjoyed swimming several times a

week. He was the happiest and busiest retiree we have ever known-never got bored with

his retirement,reading and writing constantly. He will be sorely missed by so many loved

ones, family, students, friends, tennis buddies - he touched so many lives and inspired so

many of his students to do what they loved. We love you Bob and we will miss you.

Service on Tuesday December 22, 2010 at 2:00 PM Temple Beth Am, 5950 North Kendall Drive, Miami, Fl 33156.Arrangements under the direction of Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels at Mount Nebo (Kendall), Miami, FL.