 APRIL 16 • 2020 | 21

just loved him, and he was the 
heart and soul of that school.
” 
Miller also remembers 
Sanders as being respectful of 
Hillel’
s Jewish practices. 
“He gladly put on a kippah 
during services and celebrat-
ed Jewish holidays with staff 
and students,
” Miller said. 
“No matter what was asked of 
Coach Tony, he was willing to 
help and offer support. Tony 
always had a smile that made 
him the light in the halls of 
Hillel.
” 
Jacob Schlussel, a senior 
at Berkley High School, had 
Sanders as his basketball 
coach for three years and 
formed a strong relationship 
with him. That continued 
even after Schlussel graduated 
from Hillel. 
“You could tell just the 
passion that he had for the 
students and for the game 
of basketball,
” Schlussel said. 
“With some coaches, you don’
t 
always sense the love for their 
players, but with him, you 
could tell how much he loved 
to coach and you just got that 
sense from him that he truly 
cared for you a ton and want-
ed to help you grow — not 
only as a player but also as a 
person.
” 
Farmington Hills resident 
and Hillel teacher Marcie 
Goldstein remembers Sanders 

as a “kind, loving soul whose 
infectious smile could bright-
en anyone’
s day.
” Her two sons, 
Ben, 18, and Seth, 16, both 
had Sanders as a basketball 
coach while they were stu-
dents at Hillel. 
“Sanders was more than a 
basketball coach. He was the 
guy who was always outside 
at lunch playing basketball 
with the kids, he was the guy 
you would talk sports with 
and he was the guy you would 
always high-five when walking 
down the hallway,
” Ben said. 
“We established relationships 
with him before he was even 
our basketball coach. He was 
a gentle giant, always had 
a smile on his face and was 
someone you looked forward 
to seeing.
” 
Like everyone else, 
Goldstein knows that Sanders 
will be greatly missed 
throughout the entire Hillel 
community. His presence at 
the school inspired not only 
his students and players, but 
also anyone who walked into 
the building. 
“His advice and encour-
agement always came from 
his heart. His goal was always 
to see that the kids worked 
hard to be the best they could 
be,
” Goldstein said. “He truly 
touched the lives of so many 
kids.
” 

COURTESY OF HILLEL DAY SCHOOL

Coach Tony with a few of the many award-winning athletes he coached.

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

michprobate.com

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