Birth Date: 08/11/1954
Deceased Date: 12/24/2019
Robert S. Gandy, Jr., 65, of Ridgeway, South Carolina, died unexpectedly on
December 24, at his home. He was born August 11, 1954, in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania and grew up in Selma, NC. He graduated from Smithfield-Selma Senior High in 1972, attended Johnston County Community College and Widener College in Chester, Pennsylvania before earning a Bachelor of Science degree and an MPA in Public Management and Policy in 1985 at Appalachian State University.
Rob began his career in Plymouth before being hired in Southport, where he was
the city’s longest serving manager, 1993 to 2008. After retirement, he was the
harbormaster at Deep Point Marina, but returned to city management in Southport as
interim manager in 2013 and in Oak Island as interim co-manager in 2016. Rob was
known as a working manager, for his readiness to get out from behind his desk and do
whatever job needed to be done. He always said that was a lesson he learned from his Dad. He was an avid sailor and loved the ocean. In 1995, 1996 and 1997, he captured top honors skippering his sailboat Seldom Seen during the Summer Race Series of the Cape Fear Yacht Club.
In 2018, “Robbie,” as he was known to many, moved to Lake Wateree in South
Carolina to be closer to family, also achieving his dream of living on the water.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert (Bob) Sr. and Ann Gandy, and
his grandparents, Fred and Evelyn Hartman, of Media, Pennsylvania, and Arthur and
Margaretta Gandy of Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
Robbie is survived by his loving family, including his sisters, Karen G. Sampson
(Dave), of Raleigh, Chris G. Slappey (Bill) of Ridgeway, SC, Beth G. Cassidy (Todd) of
Mocksville, nieces April Robson, Sarah Slappey, Laura Cox, and Katie Whitaker,
nephews Ben Sampson and Sam Cassidy, two great-nieces, three great-nephews, cousins, and his “wingman,” his beloved dog Deacon “Deke” Blue.
The family plans to hold celebration of life services in both South Carolina and
Southport in the near future.
Memorials may be made to any of the following: Make-A-Wish Foundation,
Danny & Ron’s Rescue of Camden, SC, and The American Heart Association.
