Sanford Forrest Roy

Sanford Forrest Roy, 58, left this world unexpectedly on March 12, 2024. Sanford was born in Baton Rouge on April 17, 1965, and was adopted into a loving family. He loved to tell the story of how his parents chose him even when they were told by doctors that he could be blind, which did not end up being the case. When Sanford was 12 years old, he met Jan, 13, the girl who would be his soulmate, lifelong best friend, and the mother of their two children, Ashley and Forrest. Jan always says that even at 13, she knew how special Sanford was; it was love at first sight. Sanford loved to tell anyone and everyone who would listen about how he and his wife met as children, and every year on Valentine’s Day, their middle-school anniversary, he gave Jan red roses for the number of years they had been together. This past Valentine’s Day, he gave her 45 red roses for 45 years together. 

Sanford was not only an exceptional husband, but an exceptional father for the entirety of his life, the kind who never missed school or sporting events. His children have fond memories of spending time outside with their dad – climbing oak trees, jumping on the trampoline, playing catch in the front yard, and riding bikes to the creek at the front of their neighborhood to look for snakes until the sun went down and the cicadas started singing. Their dad always had seemingly endless stores of energy to play with them, even after long days at work. His children also have fond memories of going to countless LSU football games with their parents. Sanford was a season ticket holder for many years, with seats one column over from the student section, so his children grew up getting the full experience of LSU football and sharing in his love for the sport. 

Sanford graduated from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. Sanford spent the past 26 years as a wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he was a Senior Vice President. In recent years, he was recognized by Forbes as one of the top advisors in the state of Louisiana. Sanford was a proud board member of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, where both his mother and mother-in-law received cancer treatment, and St. Joseph’s Academy, where his daughter attended high school. 

Sanford truly made an impact on everyone he met – family, friends, coworkers, and strangers alike. Sanford loved spending time with his family, traveling, savoring good food, being outdoors, and watching the sun set. 

Sanford is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Albin Roy Jr. He is survived by his wife, Jan Aubert Roy; his children, Ashley and Forrest Roy; his mother, Marilyn Joy Adams Roy; his brother, Thomas Albin Roy III; his sister, Carolyn Joy “Sissi” Roy; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.   

Visitation will be held at St. George Catholic Church in Baton Rouge on Saturday, April 6^th from 10:00am to 11:30am. The funeral mass at St. George Catholic Church will begin at 11:30am, and will be followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jan and Sanford Roy Family Endowment Fund at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation. Sanford established this fund in his lifetime to advance cancer research, education, early detection, and access to care across Louisiana today and for generations to come. Donations to this fund may be made to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation, Attn: Development Office, 4950 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, memo: Jan and Sanford Roy Family Endowed Fund, or through the following link: https://marybirdfoundation.org/legacy-funds/sanford-roy.