Martin M. Sanders Jr.

| 16 Jan 2018 | 02:07

Martin M. Sanders Jr. of Campbell Hall, N.Y., entered into rest on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, at home with his family by his side. He was 80.
Son of Martin M. Sanders Sr. and Catherine (McDermott) Sanders, he was born May 11, 1937, in the Bronx, N.Y.
He was a stone derrickman and rigger with Local Union 197. He was a licensed master rigger with unlimited capacity designation and teacher in the local apprenticeship program. Marty was an iconic figure in the industry and ran work at such projects as the CBS building at 85 Broad St. in New York City, multiple casinos in Atlantic City, and the Einstein Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was elected to the Orange County Legislature in 1974, serving Blooming Grove, Hamptonburgh, and Maybrook. He was known for "bringing home the bacon" — finding funding for Blooming Grove Senior Center, Fire Department and the Humane Society. He was also an entrepreneur owning a myriad of diverse businesses, including Sanders Sanitation, Route 208 Sunoco, Redwood Fence Co., and Allied Building Contractors, and was a local real estate agent. He also drove a bus for the Washingtonville School District.
A collector of antique cars, his favorite was his Model T Ford. An avid pinochle player, he taught all of his children and grandchildren how to play. He was a connoisseur of fine food and Pepsi. Marty's greatest pleasure was spending time with his extensive family and hosting many gatherings. While a "people person" with a dynamic presence that was larger than life, his gentle soul earned the loyal affection of his cat, Cinder.
Survivors include his wife, Suzanne V. Sanders, at home; children, Kimberly Sanders-Eachus and husband, Christopher, of New Windsor, N.Y., Martin Sanders III and wife, Susan, of Bloomingburg, N.Y., Mitchell Eugene Sanders and fiancée, Ercyla Schulz, of Bloomingburg, N.Y., Robert Wells and wife, Robin, of Bloomingburg, and Douglas M. Sanders and wife, Danielle, of Goshen, N.Y.; sister, Catherine Sanders of Manhattan; grandchildren, William Sanders Miller, Rebecca Sanders Eachus, Sarah Roughan, Jaclyn Eachus, Martin Sanders IV, Michael Sanders, Brian Sanders, Alex Sanders, Joseph Sanders, Robert Sanders, M'lissa Ann Jones, Christine Sanders, Andrew Sanders, Erin Sanders, Lauren Sanders, Brett Sanders, Nicole Reed, Kaitlyn Wells Monahan Teri Calhoun, Elizabeth Schulz and Kylla Schulz; great-grandchildren, Robert Casiano, Giavonna Miller, Liam Miller, Brody Roughan, Amelia Roughan, Madelina Sanders, Aubrey Sanders, Evangeline Sanders, Adeline Sanders, Emma-Lee Jones, Margaret Mae Jones, Alyson Monahan, and Jameson Monahan.
He was predeceased by his daughter Karen Wells, brother Jackie Sullivan, and sisters Betty Doran and Margaret Lyons.
Visitation was held Jan. 12 at the Donovan Funeral Home, Goshen, followed by a funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Blooming Grove Volunteer Ambulance Corp., 7 North St., Washingtonville, NY 10992.