Obituary: Sanford Richard Karesh

Sanford Richard Karesh passed away Jan. 10. He was born in Augusta, Ga. on Aug. 16, 1934, and lived a full 87 wonderful years.

Born to Ida Karesh and Mose Karesh, Sanford was raised with sister, Sondra Karesh Pritchard. He attended Richmond Academy for high school. Sanford received his undergraduate degree in 1956 from the University of Georgia and his law degree in 1958. While attending law school, Sanford was elected Vice President of his senior law class. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar Association in 1960.

Sanford married his lovely wife, Harriet Roslyn Rothstein, on March 15, 1959. They moved to Atlanta, Ga., where they had their three beautiful children, Babs, Kenneth and Heath.

Sanford was a partner with Kaler & Karesh law firm and then Seacrest, Karesh, Tate & Bicknese for 35 years. His specialty was commercial real estate, business law and petroleum law. Sanford was a member and head usher at Congregation Beth Jacob for 15 years.

Sanford was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and the chairman of the Saturday afternoon Poker Club at the fraternity house. He was always very involved with his community as a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the Bar Association and City Club of Buckhead.

Sanford attended every University of Georgia football game for more than 70 years and became good friends with Vince Dooley in his later years.

Sanford’s love was to be with his family, watching University of Georgia football and spending time at Lake Lanier with his wife and best friend, children, grandchildren and friends!

His one sorrow will be that he missed Monday night’s game with UGA vs. Alabama for the championship.

Sanford’s other loves were walking with his group every Saturday and Sunday and then having breakfast. He took many fishing trips with his buddies at Homosassa, Fla. He enjoyed the fishing, shore lunches, playing poker and drinking good bourbon.

Sanford was nominated “Father of the Year” by the American Diabetes Association in 2004, and 99 of his best friends came to honor him at the Fox Theatre, joined by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Sanford was survived by his wife, Harriet Roslyn Rothstein, who was the love of his life and to whom he was married for 62+ years; his children, Barbara “Babs” Helene Karesh (Bill) Kinneary, Kenneth Blake (Sarah) Karesh and Heath Ivan Karesh; and his grandchildren, Jenna Ivey Karesh, Arden Sydney Karesh and Zachary Aaron Karesh.

Graveside services were held Jan. 12 at 3:00 p.m. at Arlington Memorial Park (201 Mt. Vernon Highway, Atlanta, GA 30328). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org/donate). Please sign guestbook at www.dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Arrangement by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.