Roosevelt Sands Jr., who served as a devoted mentor, church leader and civil rights activist across generations in Key West, died Oct. 9 at a Miami-area hospital, with his wife and daughters at his side. He was 93.
Sands spent his life serving others, from his tour of duty in the Korean War, his tenure as a counselor at Key West High School and decades on the Key West Housing Authority’s volunteer board.
He was a tireless advocate for civil rights, housing, healthcare and job opportunities for the Black community and the Bahama Village neighborhood.
“An icon passed this morning and so did an era in Key West history,” said Sands’ nephew, Key West City Commissioner Clayton Lopez, in a Facebook post.
Sands was with his wife Dorothy and daughters Rosita Sands and Salome McIntosh in his last moments.
Funeral arrangements were not available at press time.
“There is no question of the love he had for his hometown and the love that our hometown has for him,” Lopez said.
In 2022, the Key West City Commission honored Sands as a local hero by proclaiming Oct. 1, his birthday, as Roosevelt Sands Jr. Day.
“With the example of Mr. Sands and the Sands family, several generations of Conchs have grown to become educators and legislators, striving to make the world a safer and more just place,” the city’s proclamation stated.
Roosevelt Charles Sands Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1930 in Key West, into a family of community leaders.
His job title at Key West High School was occupational specialist, helping students in job training. But he was remembered as a mentor, always willing to guide and motivate.
Into his 90s, Sands was known to many locals as “Sarge,” a reference to his years as a sergeant in the Army Reserve for many years after he served in Korea.
Sands, known as “Uncle Junior” to his nephews and nieces, lived up to the legend of his namesake father, Roosevelt Sands Sr., who died in 1997 at 96. His gravestone reads, “His living was not in vain.”
“He was an individual who made himself accessible and who was always willing to help in whatever way to help make this city a better city in which to live,” Sands Jr. said of his father in 2020.
John Welsh, the longtime Key West High School principal, recalled that Sands had a gift for connecting with people while working as a teacher and counselor.
“It was a privilege working with him,” Welsh said. “He was always available for anybody. He would befriend people really easily. Even the most unlikely student, he would befriend him.”
Welsh said his own son while in high school considered Sands his mentor.
“Mr. Sands always had a calming effect on students,” said Welsh, who retired as principal in 2012. “No matter how outraged the student was.”
Sands shared wisdom with the students, who knew they could depend on him to listen and help.
“They actually sought out his advice,” Welsh said. “He was walking history.”
Sands had a keen sense for what young people needed: a friendly chat, encouragement or even a lunchtime meal.
“I used to tease him all the time,” Welsh said. “I’d tell him nobody has bought more student lunches than him. If there was a student who didn’t have money for lunch, Mr. Sands had his wallet open.”
In 2022, as he received the city’s proclamation of Roosevelt Sands Jr. Day, Sands thanked the community for standing by him.
“Thank each and every one of you for helping me grow and defend this wonderful city of ours,” Sands said. “I only hope that I have done something for someone to say ‘I hope my son’ or ‘I hope my daughter will be just like him.’ Thank you so much, Key West. I love you.”
