Today, the Armory Foundation takes a moment to honor the memory of Dr. Norbert W. Sander Jr., the founder of The Armory, who passed away nine years ago today and will forever remain an integral part of our legacy.

In the 1990s, Dr. Sander worked tirelessly to turn The Armory into the world class track and field facility it is today. Thanks to his contributions, The Armory hosts over a hundred track and field meets each year, including the prestigious Millrose Games. Hundreds of thousands of athletes have now experienced both the beauty of track and field and the educational and community programs the Armory offers.

Dr. Sander’s connection to the city of New York runs deep, as he was the first and only New Yorker to win the Men’s Race at the New York City Marathon and a standout All American athlete for Fordham University. Over the course of his career, he received the Heliodoro and Patri­cia Rico Lifetime Achievement Award from USA Track & Field in 2000 and the Abebe Bikila Award from NYRR in 2014.

The Armory Foundation continues to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Norbert Sander through its commitment to provide educational and fitness programming for the youth in our community and beyond. Thank you for all you’ve done, Dr. Sander, we miss you dearly.