Obituaries

David Donald Sanders of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA passed away September 4, 2022, one week after celebrating his 95th birthday. Born August 28, 1927 in the Bronx, New York to Selma and Paul Sanders, David enjoyed the popular pastimes of the era and was known to sneak into
Yankee Stadium on more than one occasion. He served in the US Navy during World War II as a first-class hospital apprentice. Following his service, he attended the Bradford Durfee Technical Institute in Fall River, Massachusetts where he graduated in the Class of 1949, majoring in Textile Chemistry and Dyeing. It was also in Fall River that he met the love of his life and wife of 67 years, Judy. They were married in 1949 and had two sons, Jeffrey & Michael before the family ventured west.

After a brief stint at San Quentin – as Overseer of Dyeing and Finishing at the San Quentin Prison Mill – the family moved to Los Angeles where David became the Superintendent of Dyeing at National Dyeing and Finishing Corporation in Culver City, CA. Over the next 35 years, David made a name for himself as a leading authority on textiles in the Los Angeles area. He was a founding partner of Cal-Pacific Dyeing & Finishing Corporation in Gardena, CA. As Vice President of Cal-Pacific, David managed day-to-day operations and trained and directed a technical staff of 130 employees. He was an active member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) and served as Chairman of the Pacific Section.

He was a life-long learner and avid traveler, earning his shellback and setting foot on six continents. Not only did he enjoy taking trips with family & friends, he was also known to be a travel planner’s almanac and history buff. Long before the days of the internet, travel guides were known to consult David about which restaurants, hotels, or attractions would be most enjoyable.

David and Judy were dedicated members of Congregation Ner Tamid in Palos Verdes, CA, where David took it upon himself to arrange outings and activities for his beloved Lunch Bunch.

Family and friends were everything to David. He was a devoted friend all his life, known as a spirited storyteller and jokester. He took great pride in providing for his family, leading by example with dignity, grace, generosity, strength, and resilience. He is remembered as a loving
husband, father, and doting grandfather. As his late bride Judy put it, “he’s an unabashed sentimentalist about all things beautiful and the people he loves are at the top of the list.”

David is preceded in death by his wife, Judy, son Jeffrey, and daughter-in-law Nicki. He is survived by his son Michael, daughter-in-law Heddi, granddaughters Kathryn (Conor) and Juli.