It is with sadness that we inform you that Martin Nathan Sandler "Marty", founder of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago has passed away.
  

Marty was a visionary who led a group of Chicago business leaders to establish the Chamber in 1958, and also brought the first international hotel to Israel (the Sheraton) to Israel.

  

Marty remained active in the Chamber throughout the decades, serving as the Chamber's President, and as a member of the Executive Committee.

  

His leadership is recognized through the the Chamber's Sandler Award, which is bestowed upon a distinguished and committed Chamber leader in recognition of the recipient's efforts and achievements advancing our mission of fostering business links between the U.S. and Israel.  Marty was presented with the Chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
 

Please join us in honoring Marty's legacy.  Memorials can be made to The Martin Sandler Leadership Fund, which will help fund AICC programs for young business leaders.

    

Daniel B. Shure, President              Michael R. Schmitt, Executive Director
      
America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago

500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350

Deerfield, IL 60015

       

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Marty was born in Minneapolis, MN, more than 94 years ago.  He was the son of Samuel Sandler and Clara Heller Sandler, and younger brother to Isadore Donald Sandler.  Marty grew up on the North Side of Minneapolis, and was very active in Talmud Torah and AZA.  He also lettered in track, was a cheerleader, and wrote for the Polaris newspaper at North High School.

  

Marty graduated in accounting from the University of Minnesota, after which he joined the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant JG and Gunnery Officer.  He married Lorraine Simkins Sandler in 1940 and they had their first son, Norman Bruce, during the war.  After the war, he and a childhood friend opened Sandler-Zieve Accounting Consultants.  This was the first of many business endeavors he helped to create and build throughout his life, including Toni Hair Care Products Company, later sold to the Gillette Company; the Hotel Corporation of Israel, which funded the first four-star hotel in Israel managed by Sheraton Hotels; Peau Seche/Sweat Products; Ero Industries; and philanthropically, in addition to the Chamber, the Gastro-Intestinal Research Corporation and Thresholds, for which he purchased a family facility in Rockford, IL.

    

Two other children were born from his marriage to Lorraine, Morris Allen and Marideth Joy. Mr. Sandler married Lucie Sandler in 1980, with whom he shared 31 years of his life together with her children Judie, Madelaine, Maury, and their spouses, children and grandchildren.

  

A private burial service was held on Friday, November 25, 2011.