Roll Call Tribute

Henry Robert "Bob" Sandler 

June 20, 1924 - June 9, 2025 

H. R. (Bob) Sandler passed away Monday, June 9, 2025, at Brookdale Galleria, just short of his 101st birthday. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved with his family to Houston shortly after the Depression began in 1930. He graduated from Sam Houston High School and was at Texas A&M for two years before serving in the US Navy as a pilot during the Second World War.

In 1948, he met Adele Segal, and they married in March 1949. At first, they lived in Waco, Brownsville, Harlingen, and Baton Rouge but in 1957 made their home in Houston.

Bob had been working in retail clothing until then, but he joined his brother, Myron, in the business their father had founded, Star Jewelry, when he and Adele returned to Houston. He set up his own business, Designer Jewels, in 1969, which is now run by his son, Mark.

Bob and Adele were longtime members of Congregation Emanu El, and Bob was a member of the Holland Masonic Lodge #1 A.F. and A.M. Making jewelry was his business but also something he truly loved, especially cutting stones and designing unusual rings. He took great pleasure in looking at art; drawing and sculpture became favorite pastimes. He had a close and treasured circle of friends, and he loved to travel, sometimes with friends or family, but he also traveled for work and made deep connections to people who owned jewelry stores across the Southwest. All who knew him recognized immediately his big laugh. He loved life and made every moment count.

Adele and Bob moved to Brookdale Galleria after their Meyerland home was flooded in the Memorial Day flood. At Brookdale, they reconnected to people they had known their whole lives and made many new friends. Bob lived on at Brookdale after Adele’s death in 2018, where he was looked after by truly wonderful and caring people.

In addition to losing his wife of 69 years, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Joe Sandler, sisters, Ethelyn and Eva Lou, and brother, Myron. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Rose; son, Mark and daughter-in-law, Kathi; daughter, Stephanie and son-in-law, Austin Sarat; five grandchildren: Joshua, Matthew, Benjamin, Lauren, and Emily; and one great granddaughter, Lola, as well as by many nieces, nephews, and cousins and dear friends, whom he loved.

A funeral service took place on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 3:00 pm in the Kagan-Rudy Chapel at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet St. A minyan gathering was held on the second floor at Brookdale Galleria at 6:30 that evening.