Sanford Gradinger
Soccer, 1959
2002 Letterwinner of Distinction
2002 Letterwinner of Distinction
Sanford Gradinger graduated from Syracuse University in 1959 from the School of Management. Sanford was a two-time team captain of the men's soccer team and earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1959. Not only a great soccer player, Gradinger also played baseball. In 1955 and 1957, he was invited to spring training by the Cincinnati Reds. He has also played tennis and he was ranked nationally and within Florida in the 60 – 65 age groups from 1996-99.
Following graduation Gradinger entered the life insurance business where he worked for more than 35 years. From 1967-85 Gradinger worked for Provident Mutual before opening Gradinger and Associates. From 1985-95 Sanford served as president of the Centra Financial Group, Centra Retirement Services, Inc. and CFG Financial Advisors, Inc. Throughout his career he became a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table and received the National Quality Award after 25 years of service. He served on the Provident Mutual Manager’s Council from 1984 -85. He was a board member of the Chartered Life Underwriters from 1983-84 and served as president of the General Agents and Managers Association from 1981-82. He is now a member of the Provident Mutual Hall of Fame.
Gradinger is also very active within his community. In 1971 Gradinger began his service with the TEMPRO Emergency Housing Board and is still active today. He served on the Board of the Temple B’rith Kodesh from 1973-77 and then again in 1993-98. From 1993-99 he served on the Rochester Community Baseball Board. Also in 1993 he served on the GEVA Theatre Endowment Committee, was a participant in the Moscow Business Conference and was a Congressional Club member. He was a participant in the Rome Conference for Russian Dissident and Government Officials in 1992. In 1984 Gradinger participated in the Signing of Andrei Sakharov National Day at the White House, and in 1993, he was a part of the White House ceremony of the signing of the Israel-Palestinian Agreement.
Throughout his life Sanford has received many awards and honors. He was named in the Who’s Who Registry of Global Business Leaders. He received the Rimma Bravve Humanitarian Award for Soviet Jewry in 1987. He served on the Syracuse University Rochester Chapter Alumni Board from 1982-85 and was also a member of the Syracuse Founders Society from 1990-99.
