Date: Sep 15, 2011

Hofstra Mourns the Passing of Prof. Emerita Lenore Sandel

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY ... It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Lenore Sandel (M.S. '63, Ed.D. '70), professor emerita in the School of Education, Health and Human Services, on Wednesday, September 14.

Dr. Sandel was one of three people to receive Hofstra’s first doctoral degrees in 1970, and she was inducted into the Hofstra Honor Roll in 2010.

She had joined the Hofstra faculty in 1964 after earning a master's degree in reading in 1963. Prior to that, her first full-time position, as a clinician/diagnostician in the Reading/Writing Learning Clinic, was created for her by the director of the Reading/Writing Learning Clinic, Dr. Miriam Schleich.

Dr. Sandel’s love of education began with student teaching, more than 65 years ago, and included years of substitute teaching in all grades and subjects, and almost 30 years at Hofstra University.  She retired in 1992 after a long and illustrious career at the University, but continued to work as an adjunct professor. In 1994 she was named professor emerita, a tribute to her "long and meaningful service as an accomplished member of the faculty."

In 2000 Dr. Sandel made a generous donation of her historically valuable collection of children's books to the Special Collections Department of the Hofstra Library. She continued to contribute to the Reading/Writing Learning Clinic for many years as a reviewer of children's and professional books.

She said in a 2007 interview with Hofstra Magazine, "The close association of colleagues and the mutual respect we had for each other made teaching at the University a great personal joy.”

Provost Herman A. Berliner, who worked with Dr. Sandel when they both served in the University Advisement Office,  noted her extraordinary passion and commitment to the success of her students and all Hofstra students.  “She was a person who always cared very deeply.”

There will be a memorial service at Gutterman's, 175 North Long Beach Road, Rockville Centre, at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 16. The family will receive visitors Sunday and Monday, September 18 and 19, 1-3 p.m., at their home in Rockville Centre. For more information contact Jessica Liu in the SOEHHS Dean’s Office at 516-463-5740.