Gerrit Sanford, age 94, formerly of Swansea, passed away Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at Clifton Assisted Living in Somerset. He was the loving husband of Elizabeth (Swantz) Sanford to whom he was married for 72 years.
Born in Providence, RI, son of the late Milton and Virginia (Goff) Sanford, he lived 88 of his 94 years in Touisset, a place dear to his heart. A graduate of Joseph Case High School, Class of 1944, he attended Moses Brown for a postgraduate year and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brown University in 1949. He married his wife, Elizabeth, from Oak Park, IL, in 1950.
A financial analyst, he worked for Rhode Island Hospital Trust’s trust department. In 1956, he went to work for his Uncle, Warren Sanford at Building Materials Inc. In 1973, he bought the business. Retiring in 1993, he turned the business over to his son, Winthrop, and proceeded to build his dream home on Cuttyhunk Island.
Skilled at woodworking, he built furniture and rebuilt many boats including a Herreshoff 15, Herreshoff 12 ½, and Beetle Cat. A veteran of uncounted inshore and 6 Bermuda Races, his love for sailing was life-long.
A member of the Financial Analyst Society of RI, he enjoyed keeping up with his investments and helping others with their finances. A music lover, he delighted in singing and regaling people with his many stories: from cliff diving at Acapulco to Gulf Stream crossings in his 33 foot Nonsuch sailboat. He was also a Fall River Rotarian for decades, a member of the Massachusetts Colonial Navy, Coles River Club, New Bedford Yacht Club, Cuttyhunk Yacht Club and an active member of the First Christian Congregational Church of Swansea.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Winthrop Sanford, and his wife, Martha, of Swansea; two daughters, Susan Sanford of Front Royal, VA; Ann Sanford-Karp and her husband Andrew of Fairfax, VA and two sisters, Joan McKean and Martha Gendron; five grandchildren, Heather Goodwin, Davis Sanford, Ryan Ochoa, Ella Karp, Ixel Laird and five great-grandchildren.
His Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 21,2022 at 1:00pm at the First Christian Congregational Church, 1113 GAR Highway, Swansea. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to the Cuttyhunk Historical Society or the Rotary Club of Fall River. For directions and tributes, www.waring-sullivan.com
