Sanford Petersky

Sanford, born in Seattle, Washington on June 3, 1925 to parents Edith Olswang Petersky and William Petersky, passed away peacefully in Bellevue with his daughter Susan at his side. Sanford graduated from Garfield High School in 1943 and soon after was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army in World War II. He served in the Corps of Engineering in Europe until 1945. He was involved in the liberation of Buchenwald at the end of the war. He returned to Seattle to enroll in the History Department of the University of Washington. He was active in politics and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1952. He then worked at the Coop Insurance Agency on Capitol Hill with his father.Sanford later married Zel Franks and returned to the University of Washington to earn his B.A. and the Master of Arts Degree and his Teaching Certificate. He taught History and World Cultures at the North Mercer Island Junior High School and Mercer Island Middle School, and substituted in the Seattle School District until he retired in the late 90s. He was active until his death with many projects of the Garfield Golden Grads including being on the board of their scholarship committee. He enjoyed cooking fine meals and social-izing with his friends. After his wife’s death in 2003, he moved from Mercer Island to assisted living at Horizon View Care Home in Bellevue. There he enjoyed the last year and a half of his life where he had very fine care and was surrounded with love and good humor. Sanford died peacefully holding the hands of his only daughter, Susan.Sanford is additionally survived by, granddaughters Rachel and Sydney Roser, brother Millard and wife Ruth, niece Claire Levine Petersky and two grandnieces Rose and Emma of Bellevue, and nephew Paul Petersky of Littleton, Colorado.Memorial service with be held at Temple de Hirsch-Sinai, Bellevue at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2011. A reception at his Mercer Island home will follow 8408 SE 34th Place, Mercer Island. For donations: Please make donation in his name to Garfield Golden Grads Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 55065 Shoreline, WA 98155

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