Leland Sanborn

December 20, 2009 In Cockeysville, MD

Leland C. Sanborn, 98, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at the Broadmead Retirement Community in Cockeysville. Mr. Sanborn, who was born April 14, 1911, in Tilton, New Hampshire was the son of the late Mary and Clarence Sanborn.

A graduate of Dartmouth College, Mr. Sanborn earned his Masters' Degree in education from Syracuse University. In 1935 he began teaching at Springville Institute in Springville, NY. He served as principal of Frewsburg Central School in Frewsburg, NY from 1940 - 1952 and principal of Batavia High School in Batavia, NY from 1952 - 1962.

Mr. Sanborn was appointed superintendent of the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia, NY in 1962. He served until his retirement from full-time educational positions in 1972 when he moved to Joppa, MD. He became active at Hartford Community College as a member and eventual chairman of the HCC Board of Trustees. In 1995 he moved to Broadmead Retirement Community where he served on many resident committees.

Mr. Sanborn is survived by his seecond wife of 14 years, Dr. Claire Eckels; his daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Larry Mentzer of Bel Air, Susan and Will Twombly of Watertown, MA, and Betsy and Craig Burnham of Perry Hall. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Kimberly Henry of Bel Air, Christopher Sanborn of Montage, MA, Alex Twombly of Providence, RI, Emily Twomply of Los Angeles, CA, Lee Burnham of Baltimore, and Brett Burnham of Baltimore. He also leaves three great-grandchildren, Jake Henry and Eliot and Rosa Sanborn. He was predeceased by his first wife of 59 years, Agnes Welch Sanborn.

If desired, memorial donations may be made to Ashland Presbyterian Church, 116 Ashland Road, Cockeysville, MD 21020 or to American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206.

Letter from Leland Sanborn (written in 2007 at age 96) to the BHS class of 1959 on the upcoming occasion of their 50th reunion...

To: the Class of '59

Now I didn't say the GREAT Class of '59 because all graduating classes are GREAT. They have set a four-year goal and accomplished it. That's GREAT.

What happens to old principals? They hopefully achieved a career goal in education and can enjoy a life of retirement. Speaking from experience, this happens!

After 37 years in education, I took my retirement in 1971 to a milder climate in Maryland away from western New York winters. The great thing about retirement is you can do just the things you enjoy doing and say no to others without concern to things you don't care for.

A Maryland townhouse on a waterway connected through the Gunpowder River with the Chesapeake Bay provided a dream come true: to own a cuddy cabin cruiser and to boat and fish at will. As the saying goes: The two most happy days of my life were the day I bought the boat and 10 years later when I sold it.

Thanks to my experience in the education of the blind and visually handicapped, I enjoyed working and volunteering at the Maryland School for the Blind and in the international organization AEVH (Assn. For the Education of the Visually Handicapped). My volunteer work at MSB lasted until two years ago when I wisely gave up driving after some 78 years (like losing an arm or leg!)

Of course family life was also prominent. Three daughters, their families - our grandchildren enjoyed visited, and entertained. My wife and I found time to travel some, but unfortunately, Alzheimer's affected my wife for several years before her death.

Along with all of this, being interested in community life, I got involved with this and that church or Harford County groups, committees or boards. Perhaps most outstanding was at the Harford Community College, still serving the Board of Trustees when I moved to Baltimore County to a retirement community in 1995. Marrying a professor emeritus from HCC, we have a pleasant life in the CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) at Broadmead. Strange, but we are both busy in this or that resident activity or committee.

What happens to old principals? Now you know! Congratulation on your upcoming 50th!