Dorothy Sanderson

Born in Canton, Ohio on May 6, 1924, to Lei Minnie Shifman and Harry Shifman, She spent her formative years as a proud citizen of Canton. She was a graduate of McKinley High School where she studied diligently and played saxophone in the McKinleyite marching band. Dorothy stayed in Ohio after graduating high school and went on to graduate from Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics.

During her time in college, she auditioned for The Ohio State University Marching Band and was told her audition was great, but the director could not accept women. She was ahead of her time.

After graduating from The Ohio State University, she went on to do her graduate studies and internship in dietetics at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville Tennessee. During her time in Nashville, Dorothy met her future husband, Bernard Sanderson through friends. They began dating in the summer of 1946 and were wed on August 31,1947.

Dorothy was a highly educated, professional, working wife and mother during a time when women were not encouraged to enjoy such pursuits. She worked diligently to advance in her career before and during motherhood. Her first son, Michael Sanderson, was born June 5, 1952 and her second, Kenneth Sanderson, was born April 21, 1957. Both boys were born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee where Dorothy worked for Baptist Hospital. During this time Bernard started both Hermitage Hardware, in East Nashville, and Sanderson’s Five and Dime in Donelson, Tennessee. Dorothy worked full time and helped with the ventures in addition to raising two boys.

After establishing herself at Baptist Hospital, she worked at General Hospital as the Head Dietician. After that she was offered a position as Chief Dietician by Dr. Thomas Frist Sr. Dr. Frist was starting what would become Hospital Corporation of America and wanted Dorothy to design and manage the kitchens of several hospitals in the State of Tennessee. She accepted the position and did well in the job.

She ended up leaving the position to care for her ailing mother. But even after this part of her career drew to a close, Dorothy kept working. She worked for Cain Sloan and later Dillard’s Department Stores well into her seventies. Retiring was not of interest to Dorothy.

Throughout her life, Dorothy remembered advice from a teacher in grammar school who told her, “See The World”. She took this advice to heart and made travel a priority all her life. In addition to all of her other responsibilities, she made sure to adventure beyond her backyard. She took trips to Israel, Paris, Rome, and much of Europe, just to name a few places she visited. She was still traveling well into her seventies with both Bernard and her sister Carolyn.

Dorothy was a woman of great faith. She was a member of Sherith Israel Synagogue and Congregation Micah during different times while living in Nashville. She possessed amazing organizational skills, strong convictions and fierce loyalty to all whom she loved. She was a true lover of animals, a supportive, wife, and loving mother to her sons and daughter-in-law and nurturing caregiver to all who needed her.

Dorothy Sanderson packed a lot of life and love in her 92 years. She is loved and will be missed. May she rest in peace.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Bernard (1922 – 2010) and her sister Carolyn (1917-2005).