Remembering former Cranbrook Headmaster, Bob Sandoe

Mr. Sandoe came to Cranbrook in 1964 from Texas Military Academy, where he also served as headmaster. Sandoe served Cranbrook School through the next eight years, guiding change through this tumultuous period in history. In 1971, Sandoe departed Cranbrook to return to his New England roots, serving as headmaster of The Cambridge School of Weston in Massachusetts.

In 1977 Mr. Sandoe, with his late first wife Nancy, founded Robert M. Sandoe & Associates, which operated as a teacher placement agency and head of school recruitment firm on Newbury Street in Boston. In July of 1984, the firm was sold and became Carney, Sandoe & Associates. Bob remained with the succeeding firm for two years before retiring in Hanover, New Hampshire. His firm has continued to play an integral role at Cranbrook Schools over the years, providing placement services for key administrative positions at all divisions.

Sandoe was born in Bronxville N.Y. on June 30, 1924, and grew up in Pelham Manor, N.Y. and Manhattan. He graduated from St. Bernard’s School in N.Y.C., Kent School in Conn., Dartmouth College, class of 1946 and received his Master’s degree at Wesleyan University. Sandoe served in the Marines as a navigator in World War II and as an instructor of navigation during the Korean War. He taught at Choate Rosemary Hall before switching to an administrative role as headmaster of The American School of Manila. He married Nancy Kane of Chestertown, Md. in 1951. She predeceased him in 1999, as did his son Michael of Hanover N.H. in 2008. He married Frederica Lawrence of Hanover in 2000.

He leaves his children Susan of Berkeley California and William of Nagoya Japan, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

In his book Once More with Joy; Perspectives of Cranbrook School for Boys, Ben Snyder observed that, “Like Franklin Roosevelt at the dawn of the Hundred Days, a man determined to find whatever new ways would serve the best interests of a faltering nation, Bob Sandoe lead his School, mixing skills of improvisation with respect for and insight into the educational needs of faculty and students.” He credits Sandoe with providing thoughtful leadership during a time of profound change.