Gordon N. Sanderson, affectionately known as Gramps, passed away peacefully at South Shore Hospital on May 14, 2025 surrounded by his wife and children.
Gordon “Don” was born on May 29, 1933 in Abington, Massachusetts, first son of Robert Sanderson and Ella (Leach) Sanderson. He graduated from Abington High School in 1950 as President of the National Honor Society. He was treasurer and an active member of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity at Tufts University and graduated in 1954. While at Tufts, he met Nancy (Atkinson) Sanderson, the love of his life, on a blind date. They were married in Malden, MA in June of that year. Subsequently, as an ROTC student at Tufts, he fulfilled his service requirement with the US Navy as a Lieutenant JG spending time in Boston, Newport, RI, and Puerto Rico from 1954-1956.
Professionally, he began his career in the family business, Sanderson Brothers Printing, in Abington. He eventually became part-owner of B&W Press in Danvers, from where he retired in 1991. He was also a very active member of his community serving as a Director at Abington Savings Bank for 19 years. He was also a Deacon and Moderator at the United Church of Christ in Abington and a Moderator at Silver Lake Chapel in Plympton. After raising their children in Abington, Don and Nancy moved to Town and Country Estates in Kingston, in 1993, where he served as the President of the Homeowners Association.
He was a lifelong avid golfer and worked as a Ranger both at Strawberry Valley Golf Course in Abington and Pembroke Country Club. Don was also a dedicated fan of all of the Boston sports teams. One of his favorite pastimes was travel with family, friends, and especially his beloved wife Nancy, of 71 years.
He is survived by his children, Scott Sanderson and his wife, Amy, Karen Culpepper and her husband, John, Kristin Pepe and her husband, Richard, and his daughter-in-law, Christine Alles. He was predeceased by his son, Craig, in 2002. He is also survived by his twelve grandchildren, Heidi Vitale and her husband, John, Andy Sanderson, Sara Sanderson and her husband, Joe, Ashley Durall, Kelli Culpepper and her husband, Ryan, Katie Culpepper and her husband, Greg, Tucker Culpepper and his wife, Molly, Robert Sanderson and his wife, Ryanne, Sean Sanderson and his wife, Lindsay, Scott Sanderson, Heather Pepe and her fiancé, Ryan, and Steven Pepe and his fiancé, Sarah and seven great-grandchildren, Devon and Tessa Vitale, Rowan and Osier Katz, Maizie Culpepper and Riley and River Sanderson.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, June 20th from 10:00-11:00 AM with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 AM at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 @ the rotary) Whitman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to either:
Silver Lake Chapel
33 Lake St.
Plympton, MA 02367
Norwell Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice
120 Longwater Drive
Norwell, MA 02061