Emma Lorraine Sanford

Lorraine Burklund Sanford, known as Lorrie, died on September 2, 2016, at age 93. She was born in Stephenson, MI, on March 17, 1923. She graduated from Stephenson High School and Michigan State University. She trained as a microbiologist at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, IL and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. In 1952, she married Jay Philip Sanford, then a medical student at the University of Michigan. After graduation from medical school the couple moved to Boston, MA where he continued his training and where Lorrie worked at the Harvard School of Public Health along with having the first of their five children. Their family continued to grow as the couple moved from Boston, to Washington DC to Durham, NC to finish Jay’s medical training. In 1957, she and Dr. Sanford moved to Dallas, TX where he joined the faculty of the young Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical School. Lorrie began a very active and busy time of life, balancing work in the Pathology lab at Parkland Hospital, teaching Parasitology to medical students, raising their five children, holding positions on various Boards, as well as being involved in volunteering both in their community and through their church, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. From 1975 to 1990, Lorrie and Jay moved to Bethesda, MD where Dr. Sanford was selected to be the first Dean of the School of Medicine, then President of the newly formed Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). These were exciting years for Lorrie and Jay. Over their fifteen years at USUHS, Lorrie was formally and informally recognized for her distinguished and dedicated service to the University. She was peerless in her professional and personal contributions. As an instructor in the Diagnostic Parasitology and Medical Zoology course, she devoted long hours to teaching medical students and created a substantial portion of the Laboratory parasitology instruction. Equally important, she acted as an organizing force at USUHS, as a visible presence at official ceremonies and events, and as a guiding light to countless students spouses. She played a critical role in organizing a supportive environment for university families and in creating programs that met the needs of students and student families for a supportive and humane environment. She represented USUHS overseas as a part of the Continuing Medical Education team at the military medical outposts in the European and Pacific theaters. She supported USUHS both as a personal presence and as part of the dynamic duo, as she and Jay were fondly known. During these USUHS years through 2005, the dynamic duo continued their work together. From the furnace room of their home, Lorrie began managing the business of publishing Dr. Sanford’s, Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy, which would become the worldwide gold standard medical reference for the treatment of infectious diseases. In 1991, Jay and Lorrie returned to Dallas where their lives continued to be active and meaningful both professionally and personally. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Jay Sanford, on October 23, 1996.

She is survived by: her five children, Jeb C. Sanford of Boston, VA; Nancy F. Sanford and Catherine E. Tippen of Dallas, TX; Sarah L. Sanford of Arroyo Seco, NM and Philip A. Sanford of Terrell, TX; two sisters, Carolyn B. Chapman of Arlington, TX, and Joyce B. Ward of McLean, VA; as well as by seven grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 9, at 2:00pm at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas Ave, Dallas, TX in the St. Michael Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online www.utsouthwestern.edu/donatenow to support the Jay P. Sanford Professorship in Infectious Diseases.