Edward L. Sanders Jr.

Edward Lorenzo Sanders, Jr--”Buddy” to many--was born in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Edward and Elsie Bea Sanders on November 5, 1961 and departed on February 7, 2025. He lived a full and fruitful life of 63 years. Growing up in a time of great personal and societal unrest—racial tension and segregation, divorce, financial hardships—Edward devised a plan to change the dynamics. As a young man in grade school, Edward created an income stream by diligently managing a city paper route. His devotion to learning was evident through his earnest commitment to doing his homework. It was clear from very early on that Buddy’s intelligence, strong will and faith would fuel his future.

Edward attended Cleveland’s beloved Benedictine High School and in 1979 became the first Black valedictorian and Mr. Benedictine, the latter an award given to the graduating senior who best embodies the school’s core values of Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. A scholar, flautist, track and field competitor, he was an all-star in every sense of the word. Naval ROTC scholarship in hand, he boarded a bus and went off to join the ranks of the brightest minds in the world at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; he would graduate from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1983. It was during this time that he met his future wife of 40 years, VanessaAnne, a native of Cambridge and bright star in her own right.

Buddy had the pick of the litter in employment prospects upon graduating from MIT. He chose to start his career at Procter & Gamble, working as a Process Improvement Specialist within multiple P&G organizations and later joining the General Advertising Package Design Division at P&G’s international corporate headquarters in Cincinnati, OH. Edward enjoyed teaching and served as part time faculty at Miami University, Modesto Junior College, California State University - Stanislaus, and Northwestern University. While in Cincinnati, eldest daughter Carolanne was born in 1991. Work--now at Adobe Systems Inc--would have them relocate again a few years later to Chicago, Illinois (birthplace of youngest daughter, Eleni) and Plano, Texas. He would live the rest of his life in Plano.

Ed’s professional accomplishments were many. He loved to talk about being a part of the team of engineers who would go on to develop Adobe Acrobat 1.0 and debut the portable document format (.PDF) to the world for the very first time. The .PDF/Adobe Acrobat launch party happened on June 14, 1993--the very day Eleni was born! (Needless to say, Ed missed the party.) Edward was also among the first 30 employees of VMware, a tech startup that pioneered virtual machines, revolutionized computing and led directly to the development of what we now know of as “the cloud.” His love of trinkets and emergent technology transcended just about everything else. Throughout grade school the Sanders girls would find their Christmas stockings stuffed with the likes of floppy disks, bluetooth headsets and NASA-engineered ink pens (just in case they found themselves in need of a way to notate in zero-gravity environments).

His siblings note a remarkable transformation from quiet, studious boy into an outspoken, jolly man. Edward found great joy in meeting people and venturing out in the world. Whether at church or one of his favorite restaurants, Edward saw a future friend in every stranger. Much of his life in Texas was spent in community at Chase Oaks Church (formerly Fellowship Bible Church North), engaging in Girl Scout activities with his wife and daughters, and chaperoning Carolanne and Eleni’s orchestra trips. Ed loved being a registered Girl Scout; he volunteered and participated in Daisy through Senior level troops alongside his family and staffed Camp Twilight Hollow in Bob Woodruff Park for a 15 year period. The familial obsession with Disney was just as much Ed’s doing as it was his wife and children’s. Evidence of this includes: a honeymoon trip to Disneyworld in November 1984, a subsequent trip with their young daughters in 1999, Disney Cruise Line experience in 1999, 2000, and 2003, and an extensive and well worn collection of Disney character neckties. 101 Dalmatians was his favorite.

Edward saw his daughters through college and graduate school and was delighted to be able to add Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Washington to his life’s collection of “brands.” Later in life Buddy found great joy in hosting his grand-nephew, Ethan Burney, in Texas for the summer to help him prepare for college applications. He was so proud to see the tradition of Naval service carried on in Ethan.

Edward was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Elsie Sanders, many spirited feline companions, and the Texas Sanders family’s sweet Dalmatian, Purdy. Edward is survived by his wife, VanessaAnne Sanders (Lowe), daughters Eleni Sanders and Carolanne Sanders Lundgren (Zachary Lundgren), and siblings Erica Sanders, J. Edwin Sanders (Angela White), Elsie [Jeri] Canady (Ronald Burney), Christopher Sanders, and Karyn Sanders.

He leaves behind many beloved relatives, clients, and friends. His mission was to bridge the gap between the family generations on both his maternal and paternal sides; be that olive branch of love, hope, and compassion. During the last decade of his life Edward traveled great distances across the country and spent many hours on the phone recovering, building, and supporting family ties. His goal was to open the door of reconciliation. He created many memories with his youngest siblings; niece Emeka Burney and her four children; his cousin Alex Johnson (Laura) and their two daughters; Aunt Beverly (William) Sanders and family; and Aunt Golda Sanders and family. Edward also cherished new family soul ties and bloodlines such as the marriage of oldest sister Elsie to Eugene Canady Jr. (deceased) and birth of Ezekiel Bradford, the first great grandchild of the family.

To Edward's childhood spiritual leaders and friends at Mt. Pleasant UMC, Cleveland, OH, who witnessed his amazing transition from boy to man, the family gives you honor and praise. Thank you for providing a home; a foundation where families are still growing in Jesus Christ name. God bless you!

A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held on May 17, 2025, with a viewing beginning at 11:00 AM and the service at 12:00 PM, at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, located at 3232 E. 128th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44120. A repast will follow. In lieu of flowers, condolences, gifts of love, or resolutions may be sent to the Diehl-Whittaker Funeral/Cremation Service, 1370 E Main St, Columbus, Ohio 43203.

To leave a message of condolence please visit his Guest Book.