Mark Sauer may have been most widely known for his work in professional sports, but his impact was felt closer to home here in Delray Beach for hundreds of students.
Affectionately known as “Coach Mark,” Sauer died on May 22 at the age of 78. He is remembered by his wife of 18 years, Donna Sandberg, and son Alex, and a slew of grandchildren, siblings, stepchildren and other loved ones.
He served as president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team from 1991 to 1996 and then the president and CEO of the St. Louis Blues hockey team from 1996 to 2006. Other titles in his resume include the vice president of finance for Anheuser-Busch’s entertainment division and the COO of the St. Louis Cardinals.
When he retired to Delray Beach in 2006, he became the athletic director at Village Academy, inspiring him in 2014 to found the nonprofit Bound for College—formerly Delray Students First—a nonprofit that works with low-income students to help prepare them for success in college. The group works closely with high school partners in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. More than 200 students have benefited from Bound for College.
One of the agency’s success stories is Tre’Quan Smith, a Delray Beach native who attended the University of Central Florida and is now a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions. In a testimonial, he credited the SAT/ACT tutoring he received through the nonprofit to his educational success. He said, “Mark Sauer will always be the most important man in my life.”
Bound for College wrote in a tribute, “Mark lived an extraordinary life defined by purpose, generosity, and unwavering dedication to education, youth sports, and community.”
A celebration of life is scheduled for July 20 at the Opal Grand Hotel in Delray Beach. Donations can be made to the Mark Sauer Scholarship Fund and Bound for College here.
