Dr. Ralph Sando, a gentle eye doctor

IT MUST have been a treat to go to Dr. Ralph S. Sando's office. Patients could be assured of a cheery greeting by a man who not only knew their names, but also something about their lives and families.

He was an ophthalmologist, but he regarded each patient as a special friend, and he often treated more than their eye problems.

"A truly compassionate man, his office staff and fellow physicians believe his genuine kindness and gentle heart helped most patients with more than just eye-related problems," his family wrote in an obituary.

Dr. Sando, founding director of Accuvision Eye M.D. Care Group in Philadelphia and Ardmore, an athlete, a patron of the arts, an active community leader and a devoted family man, died Saturday of a rare form of esophageal cancer. He was 60 and lived in Haverford and Society Hill.

"Despite an illustrious scholastic and professional career, full of various accomplishments throughout, Ralph was most proud of his wife and three children and the family they created together," his family wrote.

"He devoted his life to cultivating this intimate circle of 'the five best friends,' as he referred to himself and his family, which they believe will forever root and bind them in life and thereafter."

His office, also known as Philadelphia Ophthalmology Associates, treated multiple ocular conditions but specialized in the removal of cataracts and the treatment of glaucoma.

His wife of 37 years, the former Joyce Seewald, emphasized that her husband was a man who lived life to its fullest.

"He was always having fun," she said.

That fun consisted of skiing, golfing, playing tennis and sailing the Chesapeake Bay with his family. He also enjoyed traveling. They toured the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia.

"His patients gave him great professional satisfaction and pleasure," his wife said, "and his interests in the arts and music, as well as his fondness for travel and history, provided other avenues for his personal enjoyment."

He and his wife were subscribers and regular attendees at the performances of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

They also supported the Philadelphia Museum of Art and participated in its activities.

Ralph was born in Boulder, Colo., the oldest of the nine children of Francis A. and Nancy E. Sando. After living briefly in Seattle, as well as Detroit, the family moved to Merion in 1959, when he was 12.

He graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in 1965, first in his class of 769 boys.

He was captain of the football team, bowman on the crew team, and recipient of so many scholastic and athletic awards that he received a standing ovation at the Convention Center graduation ceremony.

Ralph received four full scholarship offers, but decided on Yale. He played football there while continuing his academic excellence. He graduated in 1969.

He graduated from the Temple University School of Medicine in 1973, and interned at Lankenau Hospital. He completed the ophthalmology residency and an additional year of glaucoma fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital.

Ralph was the chief of ophthalmology service at Bryn Mawr Hospital, associate surgeon of the Wills Eye Hospital glaucoma service and was attending ophthalmologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

He was an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Jefferson Medical College.

Ralph was a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the Ophthal-

mic Club of Philadelphia.

He was a member of the Wills Eye Hospital Society, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia County medical societies, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and the Intercounty Ophthalmology Society.

He published several book chapters and articles, and lectured on ophthalmology and glaucoma.

Ralph was a member of the Union League and its Yacht Club and Kindergarten Club. He also was a member of the Yale Clubs of New York City and Philadelphia, the Overbrook Golf Club, Merion Cricket Club and Philadelphia Skating Club and the Humane Society.

He was a member of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, Catholic Charities, the Stewards of St. John Neumann, the Allied Jewish Appeal, Project HOME, Salvation Army, the United Way and the Red Cross.

He served for many years as a director on the board of the Blind Relief Fund of Philadelphia.

His oldest son, Ralph S. Sando Jr., is also an ophthalmologist and was his father's business partner.

He also is survived by another son, Blake S.; a daughter, Holly Sando Rieck; four sisters, Carol Sando, Marilu Sutter, Nancie Pomponio and Laura Sando; four brothers, James, Richard, Gregg and Robert, and four grandchildren.

Services: Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr. Friends may call at 6 p.m. Friday and at 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ralph S. Sando M.D. Fund at Fox Chase Cancer Center, c/o Institutional Advancement, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia PA 19111. *