Dr. Sanford Max

Dr. Sanford L. Max died on August 17th in Durango at the age of 89. “Sandy” was born to Nathan and Florence Max on April 7, 1926 in Newark, NJ. He attended Weequahic High School, where he was Drum Major of New Jersey’s largest marching band. He enlisted in the Navy upon graduation and was assigned to its Officer Training Program at the University of Michigan. Selected for medical training, he attended New York University Medical School at Bellvue Hospital, and graduated in 1949. Following his internship he served in the US Army Medical Corp, and was among the first physicians to serve in Korea where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon completion of his military service he trained in anesthesia and practiced in the New York area for 45 years.
In 1955 he married Phyllis Reimer, with whom he would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on August 28th.
Sandy had a life-long interest in music. While in high school he played flute in the Newark Symphony Orchestra, and as an adult subscribed to the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera for over 40 years.
In 2003 he and Phyllis moved to Durango to be near their son and his family. Sandy started skiing at the age of 25, and continued to enjoy days on the mountain until his 85th birthday. He started with leather lace-up boots and wooden skis, moving on to the original aluminum Head Standards, which still grace his garage as a reminder of bygone days. His nearly-new parabolic Dynastars are testament to his never-extinguished desire to grab “just one more run”.
He is survived by Phyllis and their sons: David, of Emeryville, CA and Jeffrey of Hesperus, their daughter-in-law Erica, and grandchildren Katja and Alex. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the [pick one] San Juan Symphony Orchestra [or] Music in the Mountains.