Sanford "Sandy" Brooks Prater

Under the veil of a low country sky where moss grows on tree branches even after they’ve fallen, and the sunsets look like heaven itself, Sandy Prater, of Montclair, New Jersey and Kiawah Island, South Carolina has left this earth with a legacy of deep love, intellectual curiosity, sincere and generous friendship, and a laugh and child-like grin that brought you inside of every joke, story or piece of trivia he shared. Husband to Gretchen, father to Dawson, Brooke, Cullen, and Devon, sister to Laurenn, father-in-law to Dale, David, and Kristen, grandfather to George, Greta, Cole, Harrison Brooks, Henry Sanford, Lulu, Audrey Hayes, Elodie Claire, Reid, Phoebe, and Ally and best friend to so many, Sandy’s world was brilliant.

Born in Morristown, Tennessee to artist Perk Prater of Brookhaven, Mississippi, and George Herbert Prater, owner of Prater’s Department and Farming Goods Store, Sandy was a true southern gentleman who loved people no matter their background. He made lifelong friendships during his time at the McCallie School and the University of Virginia, where he studied International Relations and worked as a college sports journalist before joining Oppenheimer & Co.’s Investment Training Program in New York. Sandy would grow in rank for twenty years to serve as President of Oppenheimer Investment Advisors, Co-Chairman of Oppenheimer’s Investment Policy Committee, and Manager of the private limited partnership, Catalyst Partners, before becoming the Founding Partner of Ridgecrest Partners in 1998 until its merger with Ardsley Partners in 2014, where he worked until his retirement in 2023.

Sandy met the love of his life, Gretchen, an artist, at a party in Rhode Island nearly sixty years ago. Drawn to his southern charm focused on her loving and adventurous spirit, the pair was united almost immediately by the gold ring he found at the beach and placed on her finger that day. Gretchen would hitch rides on Cessnas across the country to go to Easter’s Weekend in Charlottesville, and later accept his marriage proposal in Dulles airport surrounded by soldiers.

Sandy had a phenomenal career driven by the game, his insatiable thirst for knowledge, analysis and relationships that resulted in almost peerless advice and friendships. Sandy took a genuine interest in the people he met, his children, their friends, store clerks, neighbors, and employees. Hungry for connection, Sandy counseled those he loved to better lives with grace, wisdom, and humor. He had an incredible work ethic, and developed human and investment expertise he shared while serving on the Board with the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, Bloomfield College, Lees McRae College, Walters’ State Community College, The McCallie School, Tesoro Petroleum Corp., Mid American Truck Lines, Allen Freight Lines, The New Alternatives for Children Company and the Clairoan Foundation.

Conversations with Sandy were life-giving, humorous, information-filled, opinionated, kind and wise. He did everything right, loved sports–all of them–current events, Motown, words, and family. Because of Sandy, the people who loved him have learned, shared belly laughs, discussed the important and the trivial, been seen and received guidance and the world’s best pep talks. He valued discipline, humility, curiosity, and selfless love. He raised his children with an unparalleled moral compass with margin, focus and wisdom to see that fun and getting lost were worthwhile endeavors. He saw the humanity in everyone, was incredibly well-read, always with a newspaper or mystery novel under his arm. He had the strength, fortitude, intelligence, humor, curiosity, and social skills to thrive on Wall Street. When stocks worked out, like a child, he would giggle with pleasure, but would never boast. So generous, he was a great tipper, loved gift giving, forgiving, donating, and would take every call, no matter the day.

He gave his children and wife the best life. He was a touchstone, a first call, and everything a father and husband should be.

A lifetime Presbyterian, he’s been an elder and deacon, could recite scripture, had a gorgeous baritone, and never missed a Sunday, even on vacation when he’d choose any church and arrive just in time for the sermon before sneaking out.

He is survived by his four children, their spouses, eleven grandchildren, sister, many many best friends, and Gretchen, the love of his life and favorite partner on the dance floor. A good man, father, husband, grandfather and larger than life legend of kindness and council has left us with the everlasting impact of his perfect love.

A memorial service will be held on September 5 at 11 o’clock at the upper Montclair Presbyterian Church, followed by reception at the Montclair Golf Club in Montclair, New Jersey.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sanford “Sandy” Prater’s memory to Kessler Foundation, 120 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 100, East Hanover, NJ 07936, or online at Kessler Foundation. Details about an upcoming service will be shared soon

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation, 347 Folly Road Charleston, SC 24912, (843) 614-8494.