Our Beloved Coach Tony Sanders

I'm sure the entire community has said these words again and again. But Coach Tony was a special soul. He cared about kids and took the time to talk to kids when he didn't have to. He is exactly what I think of when you say, educator. Some people teach just by being who they are. Some people show you they care by what they do. Coach Tony always taught by action. His souls should have a place among the great ones in the world to come. May G-d Bless Coach Tony and his family.

- Jason, Joseph, Eli and Gabriel Gordon

Coach Tony always had a smile on his face and the kindest words for anyone he spoke to. He knew how to make each child (and each staff member) feel like they were his friend and like they mattered. Thank you to his family for sharing him with our Hillel family! We will forever be grateful and we hope you know how much we appreciate and love him. He will forever be in the hearts of so many students and his memory will live on forever through the kind acts of all the students who he taught. We will continue to honor him by being kind and living by the example he set forth for us. Sending you all love and thinking of you. Please know you are in our prayers.

- Alexis Sack

Coach Tony was loved by all students. He had a kind heart, a beautiful smile, and such a warm soul. He will watch over us all when we shoot a basket, bump a volleyball or kick a ball.

Thanks for being there, Tony, as I was figuring out I wasn't so good at sports. You kept things fun for us all!

- Rachel Devries

Tony and I started at Hillel together and owned Sports Around Town together. He was my brother and I miss him. I moved away 15 yrs ago but never left Hillel and our time coaching there.

- Brian Clayton

I only knew him for a short while through Shoresh (Temple Shir Shalom) but he was always so helpful because I had a lot of stuff to bring in every Sunday. He always had a bright smile and was so friendly!

- Julie Bussell

Tony was a coach and mentor to all my children. They respected and admired him very much. Coach Tony taught the kids on the court and more importantly...off the court. May his memory be a blessing.

- Ellen Folbe

I worked at Hillel with Coach Tony from 2001-2003. I was Head of Hebrew and Judaic Studies (K-5). Every day, Coach Tony would poke his head into my office to make sure that I was smiling. He always said that his challenge was to catch me at a time when I wasn't smiling so that he could make me smile. I told him that I would always give him the opportunity to extend the smile off of my face. Coach Tony's presence did just that. He filled a room with warmth and gave us the opportunity to extend our smiles off of our faces. May his memory be for a blessing.

- Cindy Friedman

I was on Hillel's first girl's basketball team, and Tony was my coach. While I haven't seen him in probably 20 years, I am devastated to hear about his passing. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

- Alana Kuhn

I really appreciate everything coach did for me, he showed me the love of basketball. Rest In Peace to the best

- Gabe Gordon

When I think of Tony, I think of a gentle giant--a big-hearted man who was soft-spoken and so loving with the children. I see him walking down the hall with his great grin and friendly, "Hello there"!

- Carol Fridson

I am a father of 4 children who all had the pleasure of being Coached by Tony. There are too many great memories to write so I will share a
recurring theme: Tony was always smiling, fun to be around, encouraging and positive to his athletes and to my wife and I as parents. He was about one thing- the kids. Truly an inspiration and a blessing.

- Alan Simons

He was very kind and caring and always smiling and always helped me out.

- Aden Cetner

As a colleague I always could count in Tony's kindness and smiling face.

- Susan Shlom

During volleyball, he would always help anyone with a skill until they got it. He was always nice and helped everyone.

- Scout Phillips

Coach Tony was a Hillel legend. He always told us that it is easier to move forward than it is to move backwards. Let us find the strength to continue to move forward and remember the positivity he added to all our lives. He ignited my passion and love for competitive sports, and was a true mentor to me and my teammates. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

- Ilana Weinfeld

I loved everything about Tony. I was so excited for him to be my basketball coach after having heard so much about him from my older brothers. He was the best and made everyone feel so special. I was so lucky to have seen him about a year and a half ago when I was in town and visiting school.

- Stephanie Horwitz

Tony was my JCC basketball coach in high school. My friends and I have fond memories of our times with him and reflect on them often. The amount of patience that man had to be second to none. :)

I had lost touch with Tony since, but had an awesome surprise a couple years back when my synagogue began having Sunday school at Hillel and I ran into Tony. Almost every school weekend since, I had a chance to catch up with him. We talked sports, his recent trip to NYC for NYE, and I still can’t believe he bet the over in the Super Bowl and won.

Tony was quite possibly the kindest man I’ve ever met. A true gentleman. I’m happy my children were able to meet him.... and I’m happy I snapped this pic with Coach Tony on the day we reconnected.

Rest In Peace my friend. Heaven is lucky to have you, welcoming folks in at the door.

- Brian Parel

Coach was Tony was always in good spirits. He brought people up when they were down, and he never let people get down on themselves or each other. I remember the day after Coach Tony's mom passed away. Not many students knew what had happened, because he was his usual happy self on the outside. However, I knew how he must have felt on the inside. So, at recess that day, I approached him to give him my condolences, and he told me that he made sure to come to school because his students are what made him happy. At that moment, I realized how strong of a person he was, and that I felt the same way about him. Coach Tony is what kept me happy, too.

- Max Friedman

I remember Coach Tony as an inspiring, happy person. He always wanted to help. This year, Coach Tony offered me a spot on the varsity basketball team, and I was so grateful to have the opportunity to play for him. He was positive, a good leader, and had faith in his athletes.

- Jacob Friedman

Coach Tony was a great man and coach who helped us on and off the basketball court. He was also a role model for us all and we all wanted to impress him and compete for him. My 7th and 8th grade years we only lost one basketball game total and beat our chief rival Country Day twice in the span. We had success on the court that a “Jewish” school wasn’t supposed to have. Coach Tony always made it seem like we could beat anyone if we worked hard and executed and we pretty much did. I’ll always remember him and the impact he had on my game and development as a person. May his memory be a blessing.

- Josh Laker

Coach Tony was such an integral part of our Hillel Family from 2001-2012. He will be greatly missed We loved Coach Tony. His kindness, his smile and his great big bear hug were so much a part of his personality.

- Love Janice, Steve, Liz, Rebecca and Randi Traison

R.I.P coach Tony. When I was at Hillel he was not only my gym teacher he was someone to go to if I needed someone to talk to. I got the awesome experience of working with him as a lunch aid. Spending time before lunch talking about sports with him and the maintenance crew. He was always in a bright mood and used to love to crack jokes. Sending thoughts and prayers to the family.

- Joshua Kepes

Coach Tony was an amazing and inspiring man, mentor, and obviously, coach. I’m no NBA player, but I still remember to this day everything he taught me about the game. I cannot shoot free throws without remembering his signature advice: “Bend your knees, follow through, hit the shot.” Every time I play, his memory will be a blessing. And beyond the sports, the lessons he taught me about sportsmanship, hard work, teamwork, dedication, and being a good person helped make me the person I am today. They, and he, will never be forgotten by me or the countless other lives he touched.

- Bradley Levin

I have many memories of Tony. Over the six years I worked at Hillel, I shared recess duty with Coach Tony. He had a wonderful way with children. They loved him. He was patient, kind and gentle. But my respect and appreciation of Coach Tony went to a higher level when I watched him coach one of Hillel's basketball team. I loved watching him coach. Coach Tony was a true master at his craft. I shared with Coach Tony how much I enjoyed watching him coach. I also shared with him that I wish he had coached me when I played varsity basketball in NYC back in the day. Coach Tony really appreciated it that I shared that with him. Coach Tony was a kind, friendly and warm person. It is a blessing to have known him. I wish the Sander's family my deepest condolences. May his memory be for a blessing.

- Aron Kaufman, 1st and 2nd Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

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