Sanford Schlesinger

Sandy Schlesinger, 84, of Marshalltown, Iowa died Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at his home.Memorial Services will be announced at a later time. Memorials may be directed to the Marshalltown Community Theater or the Iowa River Hospice Building Fund. The family requests no flowers. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Sandy and his family. ph 844-1234. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com.Sanford I. Schlesinger was born on December 19, 1922 in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Harry and Pauline (Kershevsky) Schlesinger. He was raised and educated in Des Moines, Iowa, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1940. He attended Drake University majoring in Radio/Journalism in the Drake Business School. On February 25, 1945, Sandy married Helen D. Algase of Waterloo, Iowa. Helen died in 1993. Sandy is best known in Marshalltown as the owner of Home Furniture Company (1947-1982) and Upstairs Downstairs (1982-2007). Sandy began his career as a script writer for the World War II series, Bundles for Britain. He worked for local radio stations KSO/KRNT and then moved to New York City to become a script writer for such programs as Boston Blackie, Cisco Kid, a weekly Associated Press program called Eye Witness News, and War Correspondent. He free-lanced for Suspense, Molle Mystery Theater, and Grand Central Station. In 1962, Sandy helped to start the Marshalltown Community Theater and has directed over 40 plays and Galas through the years. Sandy is survived by his daughter, Ann Schlesinger Stephens of Lawrence, Kansas, his granddaughter, Elizabeth Stephens of Kansas City, Kansas, a niece, Terry Simon of New York City, a nephew, Rick Simon of Gardnerville, Nevada, and a sister, Greta Schlesinger Robin of Iowa City, Iowa.