Allan Irwin Sandler ’51

Allan died Feb. 5, 2001, of congestive heart failure. He was very disappointed not to have had a heart transplant. He so admired Jack Bogle '51 for the courageous and vigorous way he lived.

At Princeton, Allan majored in biology and graduated summa cum laude. He was a member of the Premed Society, Republican Club, French Club, and Elm Club. He roomed with Eric Eisner and Marty Meltzer.

He graduated cum laude from Harvard medical school in 1955 and spent two years in the Air Force. An internal medicine specialist, Allan treated thousands of patients at Mass. General Hospital. The polio epidemic of 1955 caused him and a team to replace the polio tank treatment with positive pressure devices that remain the standard.

Throughout his career, he taught medical students and residents at Mass. General, and treated his patients as his friends (a group of his patients endowed the Dr. Allan Sandler Fund for Clinical Care).

Allan was an active sports enthusiast. Although a Red Sox rooter, he confused people by wearing a Yankees' cap (he had grown up in the Bronx).

Allan is survived by his wife, Mary Haskell, a brother Michael, a son Robert, and two stepsons, David and Jonathan. The class shares their grief and salutes Allan, a creative and dedicated doctor and humanitarian.

The Class of 1951