Richard Martin Sanford

Retired U.S Navy Captain Richard Martin Sanford died Thursday, June 12, 2014 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Captain Sanford served in senior positions in both military and the private sector with emphasis in aviation and workforce development. Born in Erie, PA on May 29th, 1942, Captain Sanford was the son of the late Richard W. Sanford and Irene M. Sanford. A graduate of Arlington High School (Arlington Heights, IL) in 1960, he earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Iowa State University and was member of Sigma Pi Epsilon fraternity. Captain Sanford continued his education and was a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College. He completed selected graduate studies in Management at both Salve Regina College and Regis University. Captain Sanford enlisted in the Navy in 1964 where he served his country for 26 years. During his Navy career Captain Sanford commanded an operational carrier squadron, the Navy's largest fleet readiness squadron, and a wing as well as holding many responsible training related positions, including Chief of Naval Operations, head of Aviation Readiness Training, where he was responsible for insuring flight crews were fully qualified to operate and employ all of the Navy and Marine Corps tactical and support aircraft. He ended his Navy career in San Diego as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Training Station, San Diego. Captain Sanford retired from the Navy on November 1, 1989. In the private sector, Captain Sanford held management positions with Electronic Data Systems Corporation and Pan American World Airways. Captain Sanford retired from civilian life in 2006 as the Managing Director of Florida Aviation Management Development Associates (FAMDA) in Palm Coast, Florida, where he formed and operated a joint venture which has provided leadership, management, and supervisory training as well as consulting support to the Federal Government. Captain Sanford and his wife, Anne, retired in 2007 to Rock Hill, South Carolina where he was an enthusiastic golfer who dedicated himself to serving the community. His extensive volunteer work with the Kiwanis Terrific Kids Program was near and dear to him. Captain Sanford was on the local selection committee for military service academies, served on the board of the Rock Hill-York County Airport Commission, and as a church elder at the Bethesda Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne Dickson Sanford, his son, Charles Dickson Sanford of Tallahassee, FL, his daughter, Leigh Sanford Eidson (David) of Richmond, VA, granddaughter Gaia Autumn, and brother David Sanford (Barbara) of Columbus, OH. He is proceeded in death by his sister, Linda Carter Foley. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday, June 14 at Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home,700 Heckle Blvd, Rock Hill, SC. Funeral Services will be held Sunday, June 15 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 4858 McConnells Hwy, York SC with interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bethesda Endowment Fund (Bethesda Presbyterian Church - York, SC) or the Tailhook Educational Foundation Scholarship

Visitation Details

Saturday, June 14th, 2014 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home

Service Information

Sunday, June 15th, 2014 2:00pm, Bethesda Presbyterian Church

Interment Details

Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery