Salute to Sander

The number of people in the Milford High School family that were touched by Mr. Sander is astounding. Whether he connected with them as a teacher, co worker, friend, or coach, everyone has positive memories about him and great stories to share.

In 2015, Sander was diagnosed with lung cancer and it quickly spread. Sadly, our community lost him in late September.

As a math teacher of 19 years, he had a great impact on his students.

“He was just absolutely hilarious when I had him in class,” said former student and current Vice Principal Seth Taboh. “He would mess with us quite a bit.”

Taboh remembered that on the first day of school after the Columbine school shootings in 1999, Sander said that if anything like that was ever to happen at MHS he would be one of those teachers that would die for his students. He would stand at the front door and protect them. “He teared up when he said that,” said Taboh. “That was who he was. He would have done anything for his students.”

The relationship that Sander created with his students lasts a long time.

“He was so much fun to have in class as a teacher and then when I came back as assistant principal he was just so excited that I was back here and it meant so much,” said Taboh.

The math department at Milford High School is a close-knit group.

“We get along so well, that our little 25-minute lunch period together is always our favorite time of the day,” said math teacher and friend of Sander, Mrs. Mitchell. “We could lean on each other, we could laugh with each other, we could make jokes with each other. It was just a good time.”

Sander tried to stand strong even during his last months teaching.

“He had his AP Calc students. His goal was to get them ready for the test and it was really hard for him because he knew he wasn’t doing the best job he could because he was in so much pain,” said Mitchell. “It was really sad when we had to sort of convince him, ok, it’s time go home, rest, get your treatment, try and make it work. His heart was here, but his poor body was not going to let him do it anymore. It was hard on us because we knew how miserable he was. We would do anything we could for him. We were all constantly trying to rally behind him.”

Outside of the classroom, Sander led both the boys and girls golf teams and coached the girls JV basketball team.

“He was my JV basketball coach but I knew him in my childhood because I grew up around Milford High School,” said senior basketball player, Audrey Petoskey. “He was the most motivational coach I have ever had.”

During his years coaching this sport, one team included Mrs. Mitchell’s daughters.

“He could bring out something from someone even when they didn’t want to. He could make her (daughter) play better even when she didn’t want to,” said Mitchell.

He was equally inspiring on the golf course for his athletes.

“He really loves the game of golf and makes you feel welcome,” said fellow golf coach, Mr. Felt. “He was a great friend.” When Sander was unable to coach the golf team, Felt took charge of the girls and boys golf teams.

“They have struggled with direction,” he said.

“It was really hard on all of the seniors, especially those of us who had Sander from the time we first joined the team as freshman,” said senior golfer Mackenzie Hewitt.

“We actually had our Lady Mav Tournament on the same day as his funeral and we were all very conflicted about whether we should be playing in it in his honor or going to the funeral, but we decided that he would have loved to see us golfing and playing the sport he loved, so we played for him.”

Memorials can be made in his name to Jadyn’s College Fund (c/o Fidelity Investments), Five Points of Hope at Huron Valley Hospital or to the Jim Sander Academic & Athletic Scholarship (c/o Milford High School). For more information please call 248-684-6645.

“I think it was very emotional because he was such a real person that touched all of us,” said Mitchell. “It is just always hard to say goodbye.”