Edward Julian SANDERS (STRZYZOWSKI)

                   Sandy was born Edward Juliusz Strzyzowski, which was the name he went by at least until his mid to late teens (before January 1923, anyway; see below). As a very young child, his parents apparently called him Edzio (as indicated in the obituary of Bronislaw Strzyzowski in Dziennik Chicagoski).

At some time after the death of his father in 1907, he was adopted by Edward Kwasniewski, a friend of his father. Sandy referred to his adoptive father sometimes as "Uncle". The possibility that "Uncle" really was related in some way to Sandy by blood remains open.

Sandy said that he changed his name under the following circumstances: while applying for a job (at Montgomery Ward's?), whoever was interviewing was annoyed at the difficulty of saying or spelling Strzyzowski. This person suggested that Sandy change his name to something simpler, and the way I [JTS] heard the story the name Sanders was among the first suggestions listed by this person. Sandy accepted the suggestion. I've always figured there was more to this than indicated in this story, but who knows.

It is clear that Sandy had changed his name by at least January of 1923, though, since in that year Sandy was travelling with (and among the directors of) "Moore's One Ring Circus". A letter to "the Gov" (his adoptive father), written on the circus's letterhead stationery on 30 January 1923 and giving his name as Sanders, indicates that he and the circus were in Pittsburg at that time. Other names appearing on the letterhead: Homer E. Moore, Director; Marie Moore, Sec-Treas; Jay Mengel, Side Show Dir. The letterhead advertises "Positively The Biggest Little Show On The Road" and "High Class Circus Acts; Real Clowns; Dogs; Ponies and Monkeys".

On 23 February 1928, Sandy was initiated into the Theodore Roosevelt Lodge No. 1022 of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the state of Illinois. He was passed on 29 March 1928 and raised on 10 May 1928. My recollection is that he always took this very seriously, but was not active (in my lifetime, anyway).


Sandy was buried on 22 March 1969 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. His remains were cremated and moved in 1998 to the Unitarian Church of Rochester at 220 South Winton Road in Rochester, New York.