NEWSLETTER 1899 Andrean Legacy Society Newsletter
volume 7 November 2025
Dear Andrean Community, Since 1899, St. Andrew’s College has been a place where young men are challenged, supported, and inspired to grow into the best version of themselves. It’s a school built on tradition, strengthened by community, and driven by a shared belief in the power of education to shape lives. That legacy continues today because of people like you – those who care deeply about SAC and want to ensure its future remains just as bright. November is Make a Will Month, a timely reminder to reflect on what matters most. Whether you’re drafting a will for the first time or updating an existing one, it’s an opportunity to align your values with your vision for the future. A legacy gift to St. Andrew’s – whether through a bequest, life insurance, or another planned gift – helps ensure that future generations of Andreans benefit from the same transformative experience. To make this process easier, we’ve engaged Epilogue, a secure online platform that helps Canadians create legal wills and estate plans in minutes. For the month of November, SAC community members receive 50% off with the promo code SACLEGACY50. Legacy planning isn’t just about documents – it’s about the stories we leave behind. In this issue, you’ll read about Sandy Munro ’70, whose family’s connection to SAC spans more than a century. His leadership and generosity have helped shape our Legacy Campaign and serve as a powerful example of how one person’s commitment can make a lasting impact. Together, we’re building something enduring – not just for today’s students, but for generations to come. Thank you for being part of this journey and for all you do to support the future of St. Andrew’s College. Best wishes,
Marla Lambert Associate Director of Advancement marla.lambert@sac.on.ca
Sandy Munro ’70 posing in front of the Munro Family Tennis Courts on the St. Andrew’s College campus.
A Legacy Woven Through Time Sandy Munro ’70
The Munro name has echoed through the halls of St. Andrew’s College for more than a century, beginning with Sandy Munro’s grandfather, Elmer, Class of 1908, who first stepped onto the original campus in Toronto in 1904.
Sandy’s time at SAC was marked by athletic excellence and leadership. He earned an Athletic A for his contributions to football, hockey, and rugby, and was named a Prefect in his final year, a testament to his growth and commitment.
Though the Andrean tradition skipped a generation, it never truly left the family’s story.
Although his father, Bill, joined the Board of Governors in 1980, Sandy’s focus had shifted after he moved to the U.S. later that decade. But returning to Canada in 1989 stirred something deeper.
Sandy Munro ’70 was a teenager searching for something more. After he spent three uninspiring years at Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto, his father, recalling the family’s connection to SAC, suggested a visit to Aurora. That moment changed everything. “As I came up the driveway, I thought, as many do, ‘Look at this heaven,’” Sandy recalls. The day he received his acceptance letter from thenHeadmaster, Robert Coulter, remains etched in his memory. “It was the happiest day of my life,” he says. Once on campus, Sandy quickly immersed himself in the school’s vibrant life. Encouraged by his close friend, Charlie Edwards ’70, he joined the football team, where the coach, Gary West, became a pivotal figure in his life. “He saw a potential in me that I never saw,” Sandy says, crediting Gary with helping shape his confidence and character.
“I realized the best thing that ever happened to me was coming to St. Andrew’s,” Sandy reflects. “So, having left it, I felt like I owed something back to the school.” That sense of gratitude led him to a transformative idea. In 1995, Jim Herder ’64, then Advancement Director, invited Sandy to join the SAC Foundation as a Trustee. Drawing on his expertise in life and health insurance, Sandy proposed a bold new approach to planned giving, which involved the initial aspects of the legacy program. His pitch: SAC would match premiums for life insurance policies purchased by Old Boys, with the school as the beneficiary. The concept was simple but powerful, allowing donors to make a significant impact during their lifetime, even if their financial means were limited.
“It allows younger Old Boys to make a transformational gift,” Sandy says. For example, “if you can spend, $50,000 to give $500,000, that’s a good deal, as far as I’m concerned.” Sandy didn’t just talk the talk; he signed up for a policy himself and rallied fellow Board members to do the same. Today, the SAC Foundation holds nearly $30 million in life insurance policies, a cornerstone of the Legacy Campaign securing the school’s future.
“If they can come to St. Andrew’s and St. Anne’s School… that would be a big deal,” he says. Sandy arrived at SAC as a shy 15-year-old. Today, he’s one of the school’s most passionate advocates – confident, generous, and deeply grateful. “St. Andrew’s gave me that,” he says. “It was the best decision ever made in my life.”
When asked about his own legacy, Sandy points to the life insurance program as a key achievement. “It’s where I think I’ve made some impact on the foundation of the school.” But Sandy’s connection to SAC isn’t just financial – it’s deeply personal. He remains close with many classmates and is a regular at the Manhattan Open, a golf tournament organized by the Class of 1970 in memory of Charlie Edwards, , who passed away in 1998. The event funds a bursary in Charlie’s name and continues to unite the class decades later. The Munro legacy at SAC is far from over. In a poetic twist of fate, Sandy’s son, Scott ’08, graduated 100 years after his great-grandfather, Elmer. And with two grandchildren now living in Toronto, Sandy dreams of a fourth generation walking the same halls. From left to right: Sandy Munro ’70, father, Bill Munro, and grandfather, Elmer Munro, Class of 1908, at the annual Association Dinner May 1971.
A Simple Way to Update Your Will: Add a Codicil If you’re not ready to rewrite your entire will, a codicil offers a quick, simple, and cost-effective way to include St. Andrew’s College in your estate plans. What is a Codicil? A codicil is a short legal document that allows you to make minor updates to your will, such as adding a charitable gift, without starting from scratch. •Legally binding •Preserves your original will •Ideal for straightforward updates like naming SAC as a beneficiary Tips for adding a codicil: •Consult a legal professional •Keep it simple •Consider a fixed amount •Store it safely with your will •Review your documents regularly If you’re considering a legacy gift to St. Andrew’s College, we’d be honoured to speak with you. You can explore your legacy giving options on our website.
Legacy Campaign Update The Legacy Campaign is about more than numbers – it’s about opportunity, tradition, and long-term strength. By growing our Endowment Fund, we make a St. Andrew’s College education more accessible, preserve the programs that define us, and ensure financial sustainability for years to come. Our goal is $100M in combined assets: Endowment Fund + Planned Gifts. At launch in the fall of 2019, we had a combined total of $66.9M. As of this report, we are pleased to report that we have accumulated over $97.7M. We are well on our way to reaching our goal.Every gift brings us closer to securing SAC’s future.
1899 Andrean Legacy Society Benefits A legacy gift is a simple but meaningful way to support St. Andrew’s College. These gifts can include: • A bequest in your will • A gift of life insurance • Shares or stocks • RRSP/RRIF • Annuities By informing us of your intentions, we can recognize your generosity and welcome you into the 1899 Andrean Legacy Society. Your legacy will help shape the future of SAC for generations to come. We celebrate and honour members of the 1899 Andrean Legacy Society with: • An invitation to our annual 1899 Andrean Legacy Society Brunch • Recognition on the Andrean Legacy Society Donor Wall • A commemorative 1899 Andrean Legacy Society pin Members benefit from a personal connection to St. Andrew’s and students benefit from their support, creating a lasting bond between members and the school community. St. Andrew’s College 15800 Yonge Street Aurora, ON L4G 3H7 Canada
www.sac.on.ca