Former Bridgewater Elementary School educator and philanthropist Stephen Sander has died.
Sander, 85, had started his life as a Canadian in Bridgewater around the early 1960’s, working as a physical educator at Bridgewater Elementary School.
He then moved to Vancouver, where he founded the multi-million dollar company Hollyburn Properties.
Last year, Sander returned to Bridgewater for the opening of the Minimal Invasive Surgery suite at the South Shore Regional Hospital, a two-year project which Sander contributed $1 million to.
Arleen Stevens, executive director of the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore, said Sander was quite enthusiastic about giving back to the town he loved.
“He talked a lot about how individuals should always give back to their community,” he said.
“Giving back to South Shore Regional and Bridgewater as a whole was something he had in his mind, I think, for many decades.”
She also said Sander’s contribution to the MIS suite has allowed for the hospital to do a number of different surgeries not available to the South Shore previously.
“He has helped the foundation bring new technology and improved technology not only to the hospital but to everyone in our community as well.”
Stevens said Sander always carried a love for Bridgewater and praised the ‘Nova Scotia Welcome’ he received both when he immigrated here and anytime he returned.
He passed away late last week.