Obituary — Gary S. Sandall, M.D.

Gary S. Sandall (M.D. 1960, Residency 1967), an ophthalmologist and former team doctor under U-M football coach Bo Schembechler, died on September 11, 2023, at the age of 87.

Born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, Sandall earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from U-M and became the first fellowship-trained pediatric ophthalmologist in the state of Michigan. Sandall also taught eye surgery to residents and inspired many residents to become pediatric ophthalmologists.

Early in his career, he began fitting contact lenses for football players. During a game at Michigan Stadium, a star player lost a contact lens, taking him out of the game and causing Schembechler to roar, “Where’s that god-damned eye doctor!” That was the last Saturday Sandall watched a game from the stands. For the rest of Schembechler’s tenure, Sandall served as the team’s ophthalmologist.

Throughout his life, Sandall remained committed to his country and his community. He served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy. He also was a member of several local organizations and served as the chief of ophthalmology at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital as well as the medical director at its ambulatory surgery facility.

Sandall was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. 

This obituary is based on one published in the Saginaw News.