Gary Edward Sander

Dr. Gary Edward Sander was born in New Orleans on February 14, 1947 and passed away on December 20, 2024 in Metairie. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward William Sander and Vera Coribe Sander, and his sister, Carol Sander Alciatore Hymel (Gene). He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Patricia, and their three sons, Edward Sander (Heather), Andrew Sander (Mary Therese), and Philip Sander (Sara). He is also survived by eight grandchildren, August, Caroline, Griffin, Nicola, Drew, Gary, William, and Charlotte Sander.

He graduated from Jesuit High School in 1965, Magna Cum Laude. Then, he attended Loyola University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS degree in Chemistry. Next, he attended Tulane University where he earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. With an interest in medicine, he then enrolled in the School of Medicine at Tulane. In July 1973, he married Patricia Pruett. He graduated with a combined M.D. and Ph.D. the following November and began his residency in Internal Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he graduated with the honor of being the Chief Medical Resident there.

He then returned to New Orleans with his family after fulfilling his obligations to the army and began his career at Tulane as Associate Professor of Medicine. He then completed a fellowship in Cardiology. By 1985, he became a full professor. In 1992, he transitioned to LSUHSC, where he remained a Professor of Medicine until Hurricane Katrina. He returned to Tulane and continued his career as a cardiologist.

Throughout the years, he continued working with a myriad of patients and developed a reputation as one of the best cardiologists in the city of New Orleans. Instead of retiring in recent years, he continued working part-time and remained dedicated to his patients, which he was passionate about.

This is a very brief summary of a long and full career. It does not cover the many committees he ran or belonged to, or the papers he wrote, co-authored, or edited, as well as a book he co-edited.

He will always be remembered as a mentor to numerous medical students, nurses, and residents. His passion for teaching never left him as he continued teaching nurses and others from his hospital bed over the past year.

He loved classical music, gardening, watching Saints football, Mardi Gras, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a deeply loved husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed by everyone who knew him well.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd in New Orleans, on Thursday, January 2, 2024 at 2:00PM. Visitation will begin at 12:00PM until service time. The interment will follow at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gary’s memory to Second Harvest Food Bank or to the Good Shepard School.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com