From Steve Nelson

I remember James Sangster from when he was an Army Major and a leader of the ROTC program at Wheaton College.  This was about 1967-1970.  He was very supportive of us and taught us much about Army History and discipline.  I remember him as  positive, uplifting and that he had a wonderful sense of humor.  He was very much liked by me and my friends at Wheaton.  My life is that much better for his having had a part in it.  Blessings to you who are family and friends, 

Steve Nelson

Uncle James’ military  accomplishments and those in his civilian career were quite amazing but he was not pretentious in the least. He loved Aunt Lily and his family.  Throughout the years he and Aunt Lily were always at every family event.  He never offered but if you asked he would give his opinion and good advice along with some encouraging words.  I am eternally grateful for his help once when I was at a loss.   He was such a kind and gentle man.  We will miss him dearly.  Rest In Peace Colonel James Sangster

Uncle James, we remember with you with love and pride. We're so happy we had a chance to visit you in 2018. Your wisdom and inspiration will remain with us always!
Love, Billy & Margaret

Colonel James Sangster was a very kind, devoted, loyal, and committed supervisor to all of us who worked for him in the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research at Central State University. We were known as "Sangster's Gangsters" because of our discipline and achievements under Mr. Sangster's leadership. Mr. Sangster's impact on CSU and all of us who worked for him is immeasurable. I am what I am today because he taught me how to be professional, organized, respectful, and to treat people with kindness.
Colonel Sangster was a great man.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Morakinyo A.O Kuti

I knew Mr. Sangster from church. He always spoke an uplifting "hello-how ya doin'" when I passed. He had a silent smile that spoke volumes. He was such sweet soul. We will miss him. I pray that not only he rests in eternal peace but that the family rests within Gods loving care and His grace through this. 
Well done, good and faithful servant.

The summer of 1968 was a troubled time.  There was great social turmoil with riots, demonstrations, protests and much more, with much of it reflecting underlying injustice in the nation.  Even though very politically conservative, I was very concerned that the nation move toward correcting that injustice.  Nixon, the Republican candidate for president, promised that he would pick a vice-presidential candidate who would help to move the Republicans toward remedying those problems.  I was at ROTC summer camp at Fort Riley when Nixon made his announcement-- Spiro Agnew.  I was very upset and discouraged.  Obviously it was noticeable.  Major Sangster happened to pass me on the street, saw my upset and stopped to talk with me (probably figuring that it was an Army summer camp issue).  Instead I start discussing Nixon's VP pick, which I think surprised him.  Still, he talked with me a while, and I was eventually convinced that the choice of Agnew was not the end of the nation, and I could move ahead and complete camp successfully.  I always appreciated his care for me, one of his soldiers, at that moment.

Major Sangster had a special role at Wheaton.  He was at that time one of the first African-Americans to hold a faculty position at what was then a very White small college.  He was an excellent model and example to students of how all kinds of persons can excel, irrespective of background or race/ ethnicity.

I remember especially that he was a good friend and model to one of my best friends, Elliott Jones, who was one of the few African-American male students and also one of my classmates who went into the Army as an officer.  Major Sangster befriended him and helped him to become an excellent officer and person.

It was my good fortune to cross paths twice with Colonel Sangster in Columbus, once while he was still in the Army and working with the ONG, and later on one occasion socially.  We had a good time talking about his military faculty colleagues and what they had done after Wheaton and what I knew about some of my classmates that he had taught.  He always carried himself well and built up those around him.

To his family and friends and churchmates, I wish comfort in the memory of this very good man.

I was one of the students in the ROTC battalion at Wheaton College from 1965-1969, when then Captain/ Major Sangster was the assistant Commandant of the Unit.  While we we not close friends, we had a couple of interactions worth recounting.  The first was Major (his rank then) Sangster as an instructor.  We had a semester of military history.  He gave one of the lectures, detailing his time as an assistant to S.L.A. Marshall, the top operational military historian at that time.  He indicated that it was not, at first, a desirable assignment, but as he saw how thoroughly Marshall researched battles, putting pieces together from many sources and finally clarifying what had been done well and poorly, it led to findings that would help other soldiers do better in combat situations.  Major Sangster said that it made him appreciate military history and what it could tell him, and he also learned from the detailed work that Mr. Marshall conducted and that he assisted on.  He made it very real, and helped me to enjoy and appreciate military history even more.  

I will add more later.

Steve Van Dine

As a former colleague of Col. Sangster at Central State University, I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to his beloved family and friends.  

He established the beginnings of the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs at CSU. He worked extremely hard to connect our researchers with agencies such as NASA, JPL, USDOD and USAID among others. He was an extremely kind person totally focused on accomplishing all what he undertook. I had the good fortune of taking him to  see the Pyramids of Giza which he thoroughly enjoyed on a trip to Cairo University in Egypt with Dr. Art Thomas. Col Sangster was a unique individual with the chirp of a youngster always despite his non nonsense approach. He made an indelible mark in our hearts and minds with his kindness and dedication to help students and the Institution.

May his Soul Rest in Peace.

Subramania Sritharan (Sri)

Full Of Love Bouquet was purchased for the family of James Howard Sangster Sr.

It is an honor to serve Colonel Sangster and his family.  Keeping everyone in my thoughts. Todd Hurley

OBITUARY

James Howard Sangster

October 7, 1935 – September 7, 2020

Schoedinger Midtown

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services