Ralph Sando, October 13, 2007
(Posted on philly.com, Oct. 16, 2007, by John F. Morrison.)
Dr. Ralph Sando, Gentle Eye Doctor
It must have been a treat to go to Dr. Ralph S. Sando’s office.
Patients could be assured of a cheery greeting by a man who not only
knew their names, but also something about their lives and families.
He was an ophthalmologist, but he regarded each patient as a special
friend, and he often treated more than their eye problems.
“A truly compassionate man, his office staff and fellow physicians
believe his genuine kindness and gentle heart helped most patients
with more than just eye-related problems,” his family wrote in an
obituary.
Dr. Sando, founding director of Accuvision Eye M.D. Care Group in
Philadelphia and Ardmore, an athlete, a patron of the arts, an active
community leader and a devoted family man, died Saturday of a rare
form of esophageal cancer. He was 60 and lived in Haverford and
Society Hill.
“Despite an illustrious scholastic and professional career, full of
various accomplishments throughout, Ralph was most proud of his wife
and three children and the family they created together,” his family
wrote.
“He devoted his life to cultivating this intimate circle of ‘the five
best friends,’ as he referred to himself and his family, which they
believe will forever root and bind them in life and thereafter.”
His office, also known as Philadelphia Ophthalmology Associates,
treated multiple ocular conditions but specialized in the removal of
cataracts and the treatment of glaucoma.
His wife of 37 years, the former Joyce Seewald, emphasized that her
husband was a man who lived life to its fullest.
“He was always having fun,” she said.
That fun consisted of skiing, golfing, playing tennis and sailing the
Chesapeake Bay with his family. He also enjoyed traveling. They toured
the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia.
“His patients gave him great professional satisfaction and pleasure,”
his wife said, “and his interests in the arts and music, as well as
his fondness for travel and history, provided other avenues for his
personal enjoyment.”
He and his wife were subscribers and regular attendees at the
performances of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Opera Company of
Philadelphia.
They also supported the Philadelphia Museum of Art and participated in
its activities.
Ralph was born in Boulder, Colo., the oldest of the nine children of
Francis A. and Nancy E. Sando. After living briefly in Seattle, as
well as Detroit, the family moved to Merion in 1959, when he was 12.
He graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in 1965, first in his
class of 769 boys.
He was captain of the football team, bowman on the crew team, and
recipient of so many scholastic and athletic awards that he received a
standing ovation at the Convention Center graduation ceremony.
Ralph received four full scholarship offers, but decided on Yale. He
played football there while continuing his academic excellence. He
graduated in 1969.
He graduated from the Temple University School of Medicine in 1973,
and interned at Lankenau Hospital. He completed the ophthalmology
residency and an additional year of glaucoma fellowship at Wills Eye
Hospital.
Ralph was the chief of ophthalmology service at Bryn Mawr Hospital,
associate surgeon of the Wills Eye Hospital glaucoma service and was
attending ophthalmologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
He was an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Jefferson Medical
College.
Ralph was a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the
American College of Surgeons, the College of Physicians of
Philadelphia and the Ophthalmic Club of Philadelphia.
He was a member of the Wills Eye Hospital Society, the Pennsylvania
and Philadelphia County medical societies, and the Pennsylvania
Academy of Ophthalmology and the Intercounty Ophthalmology Society.
He published several book chapters and articles, and lectured on
ophthalmology and glaucoma.
Ralph was a member of the Union League and its Yacht Club and
Kindergarten Club. He also was a member of the Yale Clubs of New York
City and Philadelphia, the Overbrook Golf Club, Merion Cricket Club
and Philadelphia Skating Club and the Humane Society.
He was a member of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, Catholic
Charities, the Stewards of St. John Neumann, the Allied Jewish Appeal,
Project HOME, Salvation Army, the United Way and the Red Cross.
He served for many years as a director on the board of the Blind
Relief Fund of Philadelphia.
His oldest son, Ralph S. Sando Jr., is also an ophthalmologist and was
his father’s business partner.
He also is survived by another son, Blake S.; a daughter, Holly Sando
Rieck; four sisters, Carol Sando, Marilu Sutter, Nancie Pomponio and
Laura Sando; four brothers, James, Richard, Gregg and Robert, and four
grandchildren.
Services: Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Mother of Good Counsel
Church, Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr. Friends may call at 6 p.m. Friday
and at 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ralph S. Sando
M.D. Fund at Fox Chase Cancer Center, c/o Institutional Advancement,
333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia PA 19111.
Published on Philly.com from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17, 2007
RALPH SCOTT, M.D., Oct. 13, 2007, age 60 years, of Haverford and Society Hill, PA. Beloved husband of Joyce S. (nee Seewald). Beloved father of Ralph S. Sando, Jr., M.D. (Nina), Holly Sando Rieck Esq. (Donald) and Blake Seewald Sando Esq. (Jennifer). Beloved son of Francis A. and Nancy E. Sando. Brother of Carol Sando, Marilu Sutter (Fran), James Sando (Barbara), Richard Sando (Holly), Gregg Sando (Sarah), Robert Sando, Nancie Pomponio (Ross) and Laura Sando (Pedro). Grand-father of Brittany, Berkeley, Donald and Elizabeth. Nephew of Marvin Sando; also survived by 18 nieces and nephews and 4 grand nieces and nephews and many cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Mass Sat. 10 A.M. Church of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Pennswood Rd., Bryn Mawr where friends may call after 9 A.M. Friends may also call Friday eve. 6 to 9 Church of Our Mother of Good Counsel. Int. private. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The Ralph S. Sando M.D. Fund at Fox Chase Cancer Center, c/o International Advancement, 333 Cottman Ave., Phila., PA 19111.
Class Notes: Jim Schweitzer reports: “I’m sorry to have to pass on the sad news that our classmate, Ralph Sando, died of cancer in mid-October. Ralph, who was a prominent ophthalmologist in Philadelphia, is survived by his wonderful wife Joyce, whom he met our junior year and married in 1970; three children, all of whom graduated from Yale; and four grandchildren. Ralph was devoted to his family, his patients, and his community. He was a patron of the arts and a tireless and generous supporter of Yale. Lengthy articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News, written after Ralph died, detailed his extraordinary career, achievements too numerous to mention, and the incredible work he did in his community. You can find the Daily News piece at www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/10568412.html.
”All his professional accomplishments aside, Ralph was undoubtedly most proud of his family: his ‘Belle Amie’ Joyce and his children Ralph Jr. ’93, Holly Rieck ’95, and Blake ’99. Ralph Jr. was Ralph’s partner in their medical practice; Holly and Blake are attorneys. Ralph’s funeral was October 20 in Bryn Mawr and each of his children gave a separate eulogy. They were each remarkable—eloquent, touching, funny, heartbreaking. Each captured Ralph perfectly, each in a different way. Many of our classmates came to the funeral: Dave Stretch, John Yarmuth, Robb High, Don Galligan, Larry Franks (and wife Ellen), Steve Dixon (and wife Peg), Quent Lawson (and wife Ellen), Kim Morsman (and wife Ingrid). It was a nice turnout of Ralph’s roommates, other Morse College buddies, and DKE fraternity brothers, and it was a tribute to the strength of the friendships Ralph made—and maintained—over more than four decades. But it was a sad day.
“Those wishing to make a contribution in Ralph’s memory may send it to the Ralph S. Sando M.D. Fund at Fox Chase Cancer Center, c/o Institutional Advancement, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111.”
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