Fred Sanders PhD

Fred Sanders, MD, PhD,
age 88, died Wednesday at his home, in the presence of his beloved wife, Frieda, who selflessly cared for him during his short, brutal battle with cancer. Fred was born April 10, 1923, in The Bronx, New York, where he grew up in a tough and poor immigrant neighborhood. The urban experience of his youth was abruptly halted by World War II. He proudly served in the US Army from 1943 to 1945, earning an honorable discharge despite his occasional dishonorable behavior in France in regards to food and wine.

After the war, he and his then new bride moved to Bloomington, Indiana, so that Fred could attend Indiana University on an academic scholarship. As he had his entire life, Fred excelled in academia. He graduated from IU in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree with High Honors. Fred and Frieda then moved to Muncie, NY, where Fred joined the research team of Lederle Laboratory. In 1958, he was admitted to the prestigious New York Academy of Sciences. Of particular note was the publication of a research paper in SCIENCE, a highly regarded publication whose list of contributors included Albert Einstein. Encouraged by his success as a research scientist, Fred earned a joint PhD in biochemistry and an MD from the University of Texas. He held the distinction of graduating not only with a double degree, a rarity at that time, but also with graduating as the number one student in his medical class. Fred was accepted in a residency program in general medicine at Marion County General Hospital (now Clarion/IU Hospital).

In 1963, he opened a private medical practice on the northwest side of Indianapolis, where he continued to treat a large and loyal roster of patients until his retirement at the age of 76. Although no longer practicing, patients continuously telephoned him during those retirement years to seek advice regarding their medical conditions and personal lives. He always found the time to talk to them. Sometimes he even found the time to lecture them.

Personally, Fred was known and will be remembered for his keen intellect, his wicked sense of humor, his sharp tongue, his ability to teach himself Italian at the age of 83, his love of opera and classical music, his distaste for politics, his even greater distaste for politicos and his inability to accept mediocrity. Fred was also known for his socially acceptable quasi-hedonistic taste for food and wine, especially his love of authentic delicatessen and the foods of his youth. He ate with gusto and had the uncanny ability to remember every detail of special meals celebrated with friends and family over the years.

Fred was most proud of his successful marriage of 64 years to the woman he referred to publicly and privately as "Punim", his three children and his six grandchildren whom he referred to as "the light of his life". He spent many afternoons in retirement teaching his grandchildren how to play chess, distinguish Mozart from Brahms, and jump rope. Less than a week before he died, he was found teaching one of his grandchildren how to use a vintage 35 mm camera.

Besides Frieda, Fred is survived by his children: Susan Sanders, Martha Sanders Hoover (John Hoover), George Sanders (Dana Sanders), his grandchildren: Sarah Hoover, Rachael Hoover, Jordan Sanders, David Hoover, Benjamin Sanders and Rebecca Sanders. Preceding Fred in death were his mother, Sarah (Sadie) Sanders and his sister, Florence (Babe) Sanders.

A funeral service will be held this Sunday, April 1, at 1 pm at the Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary. There will be a private burial following the funeral service. Shiva will be observed at the home of George and Dana Sanders on Sunday and Monday evenings.

Memorial contributions may be made in Fred's honor to the American Cancer Society.
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The family wishes to thank St. Vincent's Hospice and their hospice angel, Toni Triplett, who provided boundless compassion and professional care without hesitation.