Sanford Martin Goldstein

Sanford Martin Goldstein (May 14, 1964 - June 27, 2023) has peacefully transitioned after a valiant and prolonged battle with ALS. He passed at his home in Tarrytown, NY at the age of 59. He is survived by his wife Marla, his children Steven and Sarah, his brothers Stuart (Shari, Jacob, and Sam) and Daniel (Victoria, Dylan, and Sophie), and a sweeping tapestry of close friendships; he now joins his father William and his mother Rhoda. Born in Brooklyn, Sandy was raised in Rochester, NY. He revealed a gifted mind for mathematics, logic and philosophy, while also relishing the goofiness of Monty Python and the swagger of The Clash. He enjoyed reading Greek mythology and practicing wrestling moves with his younger brothers. At an early age, Sandy saw Julius Erving play at the Rochester War Memorial Arena, fervently followed Pete Rose and the Big Red Machine, and golfed on the Brighton High School varsity team, and his passion for sports and the art of competition remained richly effervescent for the rest of his life. After graduating in 1982, Sandy attended Wesleyan University, where he competed on the golf team and played club rugby while staying active in the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Upon receiving his degree in 1986, Sandy began an investment banking career that spanned from the colossus of Wall Street to the shorelines of Bermuda, from stadium financing deals across the country to film production deals in Australia. Despite working in an often cold and calculating industry, Sandy was known by his colleagues for his humor, warmth, and personable approach to business. Sandy met Marla Wasserstrom, an aerobics instructor from Old Bethpage, NY, in December 1987 at the Club Med resort in Turks and Caicos, dancing to disco in sweltering heat. They became inseparable after a date night in Manhattan seeing Planes, Trains and Automobiles, his relentless optimism and gleeful sense of humor quickly winning her over. They were married on June 3, 1990. As a father to Steven, born in 1993, Sandy was both a dutiful mentor and a joyous buddy. The two watched New York Giants games with ritualistic and religious fervor, even traveling to practice sessions, preseason events and road games. When Steven became a featured columnist for the Giants on Bleacher Report, Sandy was quick to make a username and enthusiastically comment on every post. As a father to Sarah, born in 1996, he soon became her unwavering protector, friend, and on-field advocate: Sandy began coaching Sarah, a prodigious soccer goalkeeper, beginning in early childhood and followed her throughout the most competitive leagues and teams more than a decade later. Known to her friends and teammates as Coach Sandy, he was universally beloved by parents and players alike. Late in 2019, Sandy was diagnosed with ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that causes loss of muscle control. Despite the grim diagnosis, Sandy remained optimistic and continued to serve as an active father, husband and brother while still working at Janney Montgomery Scott. He raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for ALS research and for his “pALS” who did not have the financial resources he did. He fought with dignity and grace, using his everlong curiosity and competitiveness to research and fund alternative treatments. To know Sandy was to feel safe and be open with him, a man who often found himself as the smartest person in the room yet never compromised his humility. His memory will forever be a blessing, and his legacy will be carried by an arena-sized crew of confidants and comrades.

There will be a graveside funeral at Whitehaven Memorial Park in Rochester NY at 1:00 PM on Thursday July 6, 2023. Shiva immediately following until 8 PM at 777 Allens Creek Rd., Rochester, NY

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to continue Sandy’s fight to find a cure for ALS and to help his fellow pALS. Donations can be made using the link below, indicating the donation is being made in honor of Sandy Goldstein and using briargold@gmail.com for family acknowledgement.

https://donate.als.org/give/287064/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=jumppage

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