jeff sanford – Memphis Flyer

Jeff Sanford, a Memphian who dedicated his public life to building the city he had come to call home, died March 4, 2024. He was 81.

Jeff was born in Denver in 1942 to Velma (Beechen) and Bernard Sanford, and grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in political science and moved to Chicago to start his career at North Advertising.

He married Susan Haspel of Memphis, whom he met as a fellow student at Wisconsin.

He moved to Memphis in 1969 to join S.M. Haspel and Son and immediately became active in the community. He was appointed to the Memphis City Council in 1977 when the seat was vacated by Mike Cody, who was appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Jeff was then elected to the council in 1979 and served until 1983; he was Council Chair in 1980. He was recognized for Excellence in Government Service by the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1983.

In 1987, he founded the Jeff Sanford Company, an independent marketing and communications firm that represented both local and national clients across many industries, from government agencies and accounting and law firms to nonprofits and media outlets.

He married Cynthia Ham in 1992.

In 1998, Jeff became president of the Memphis Center City Commission (now the Downtown Memphis Commission) and developed a specialty in Downtown revitalization and planning. His leadership of the commission and its four affiliates led to $5 billion in new projects and unprecedented Downtown growth. At the end of his tenure, he received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jeff left the Center City Commission in 2010, and he reopened his consulting practice, focusing on helping both local and national clients with urban revitalization, redevelopment, organizational effectiveness, and strategic planning. He led projects for other cities seeking to emulate Memphis’ success, including Chicago, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Houston, and Omaha and presented to organizations around the world, including in Canada, Peru, and Australia.

Throughout his life, Jeff was deeply involved in his community. He served and held leadership positions on many boards, including as chair of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Memphis in May, and as a member of the Board of The Greater Memphis Chamber, Memphis College of Art, the Riverfront Development Council, and Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools. He was the past Chair of the International Downtown Association.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Cynthia Ham, his daughters Jill Burrows (Aaron) and Julie, and grandchildren Poppy and Elsie Burrows. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Nancy Pullins. Jeff’s memorial service will be held at the Halloran Centre in Downtown Memphis on Saturday, March 16th, at 11:00 am. The family requests memorial donations in lieu of flowers be made to support Bridge Builders programs at BRIDGES, USA, or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Jeff Sanford will serve as interim executive director of the Memphis Regional Design Center

Jeff Sanford will serve as interim executive director of the Memphis Regional Design Center

Last night, the Memphis Regional Design Center‘s (MRDC) board of directors voted to reorganize the five-year-old, non-profit, urban design and planning organization. That reorganization meant letting go of founding director Chooch Pickard.

MRDC board chair Bill Ferguson said the board is looking to hire a new director with management and fundraising skills, rather than someone who is more interested in the urban design and planning aspect.

“It was suggested that we need someone to manage, not someone who went to school for urban design, and all the administrative paperwork drives them crazy,” Ferguson said. “We need someone who likes to network and get partnerships, someone who is always thinking about fundraising.”

People with an urban design background would continue to work for the organization, but the director would take on more of a managerial role.

The board approved a six-month contract for Jeff Sanford, former executive director of the Center City Commission (now known as the Downtown Memphis Commission), to serve as interim director. He will be tasked with keeping the organization running while heading a search for a permanent executive director.

As for Pickard, he’s currently seeking out new opportunities in the fields of architecture, historic preservation or urban design.

“I’ve enjoyed my time there, and I learned a lot. I met great people, and I plan to stay involved with the community in whatever I do in the future,” Pickard said.

The mission and vision of MRDC, to make Memphis the most livable city in country while increasing vitality and economic stability through urban design and planning, will remain the same. MRDC’s accomplishments include the establishment of the Midtown Overlay (which protects Midtown’s historic character in new development projects), the founding of the South Memphis Farmers Market and that community’s renaissance, leading public discussions about the future of Overton Square, and the restoration of the Broad Avenue Arts District.