Bruce Sandford:
CLASS OF 1964
Central High SchoolClass of 1964
Paterson, NJ
Bruce's Story
I graduated from Bloomfield College in June 1968. Going in, I had no idea of what my major would be or how I'd earn a living after I graduated (if in fact, I would graduate.) It turns out I wound up focusing on Philosophy, which turned out to be my major. I was also heavily involved in the theater: acting, directing, building sets, stage managing, etc. I was not sure what I would do after graduation, but was considering either being a Philosophy Professor or working in the theater. I settled on the former when Bucknell University offered me a full scholarship to study for my MA in Philosophy. After one semester, LBJ lifted student deferrals for grad students, so I joined the Air Force in order to keep out of an army foxhole in Viet Nam. Shortly after enlisting, deferrals were reinstated. So, I gave up my scholarship for nothing, or so it seemed at the time.
I spent most of my 4 year hitch (after boot camp and tech school) at Travis Air Force Base, located north of San Francisco. This was just after the Summer of Love. Not bad, compared to 2 years in a foxhole. During that time I was blessed with two sons (David in 1970 and Jason in 1972.) This was a blessing in more ways than one. I began to realize that trying to raise a family took a lot of resources so, near the end of my hitch, I started to focus on a career unrelated to philosophy or the theater, and DEFINITELY not in the military! I wound up working for Instrument Systems Corp., a conglomerate in Long Island, from Feb. 1973 to Dec. 1975. I was the...Expand for more
number 2 in its Risk Management and Insurance Department. I then moved back to NJ to be the Risk Manager for Henkel Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a German chemical company. In May 1978 I moved to Sterling Drug Inc. in Manhattan. I was elected to Assistant Treasurer in charge of Risk Management/Insurance and Shareholder Services.
In July 1981 we were blessed with twin daughters, Ashley and Erica. They are still little hippies. Erica is a single office manager and Ashley is a married teacher of disabled children. My eldest son David is an architectural designer and Jason builds fine furniture and does home improvements.
In Feb. 1988 Eastman Kodak Company acquired Sterling, and the Treasurer asked me to come to Rochester, NY to become its Risk Manager. I first turned down the job because I wanted to stay in NYC. I wasn't even sure where Rochester was. After all, growing up in Paterson I thought the Catskills were upstate, and then you were in Canada. They eventually wooed me into relocating my family. As it turns out, this was a great move, since the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes region is a wonderful place to raise a family. And, it's only 5 hours from family in NJ. I had a great career at Kodak, traveled the world, and retired in September, 2011.
I am fortunate to have all four of my children live very close to me; all within a 20 minutes drive. I have 6 grandchildren ranging in age from 32 to 3. They are the lights of my life.
I am hoping we will have a 60th reunion. Our 50th was a night to remember.
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