Jerome 'Jerry' Sandy, motion picture mogul
Jerome "Jerry" H. S. Sandy, 90, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, March 28, 2015, with his wife by his side. He was born April 12, 1924, in Baltimore, Md., son of the late Fred and Goldye (Levin) Sandy.
Jerry was a graduate of Forrest Park High School in Baltimore, Md., where he played the bugle in the marching band. He proudly served as a medic with the U.S. Army Medical Corps in LeMans, France and England during World War II with the 170th General Hospital.
Following his honorable discharge, he embarked on a career in the motion picture industry. He had his own film exchange and was later associated with Filmways, American International Pictures, and Orion Films in Washington, D.C.
Jerry served as chief barker of the Variety Club of Washington, and was an early supporter of The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. He owned a theatre in Washington along with his partner Don King. Later in his career, he was associated with Metro Technical Services, turning large venues into theaters to present world premiers of films. Jerry was associated with the Virginia Film Festival at the University of Virginia for over 20 years.
He was a member of the Masonic Order, Springfield, Va., and enjoyed spending time on the Potomac River on his boat “Show Biz”. Mr. Sandy was a die-hard Redskins fan and was a season ticket holder for many years. Retiring in 2000, he moved to Rehoboth Beach, where he became a volunteer at The Chicken Shack in Bethany Beach, for the VFW of Ocean View. Jerry was an active member of the Cooties, making frequent trips to The Veterans Hospital in Elsmere.
He also participated in serving meals on Father’s Day to the injured soldiers who were brought back home to the USA and treated at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was also a bell ringer for The Salvation Army and joined Beebe Auxiliary and volunteered at various fundraisers. Jerry was an active member of the American Legion Post 5 of Rehoboth Beach. He was an active volunteer and supporter of the annual Go Red for Women event of The American Heart Association.
He treasured his time spent with his grandchildren and family, and always put his family and his love of his country first.
In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his sister, Beverly (Sandy) Buckner, his son, David Sandy; and his stepson, George S. Shull.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Patricia (Shull) Sandy of Rehoboth Beach; his daughter, Rachael (Sandy) Smith-Vaughan and her husband Arthur of Nicaragua; and his stepdaughters, Suzanne (Shull) McCarty of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, Sandra (Shull) DeSalvio and her husband Dr. James of Dunlap, Ill., and Stephanie Shull of York, Pa.; as well as his grandchildren Asher, Reuben, Kyle, Bret, Aaron, Amelia, Sofia, and Isabella whom he loved very much.
He is also survived by his cousins Elaine Grossman of Towson, Md., and Judy Cohen of Las Vegas, Nev.; niece, Linda Fedock of Towson, Md.' and nephew, Ron Buckner of Phoenix, Ariz.; along with several great-nieces and great-nephews.
A Funeral Service will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, April 2, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. In honor of Jerry’s commitment to the American Heart Association, please wear a touch of red.
Interment with military honors will be held at 11 a.m., at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro. The Rabbi Susan Warshaw will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Jerry’s name be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford DE 19963, or to the Beebe Medical Foundation, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
Please visit Jerry's Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
