Remembering Lavell “TJ” Sanders Jr.: A Life of Love, Legacy, and Lasting Impact
- MADE IN DENA
- Sep 14
- 4 min read
The Pasadena and Altadena communities are mourning the loss of one of our own, Lavell “TJ” Sanders Jr., who passed away on August 8, 2025 after a courageous battle with gastric cancer that had spread to his liver. He was just 43 years old. Tomorrow, September 15, 2025, would have marked his 44th birthday.
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, family, friends, colleagues, and former teammates gathered to celebrate his life with a Memorial & Celebration of Life Service at Bethany Lutheran Church in Long Beach, CA. Attendees were asked to wear black and yellow—TJ’s favorite colors and a symbol of his vibrant spirit. Following the service, the repass continued at a family home in Huntington Beach, where laughter, tears, and stories of TJ filled the air.
🌹 Pasadena Roots: Class of ’99
TJ was a proud graduate of Pasadena High School, Class of 1999, where he was both a student and a standout athlete on the football team. For many of us who played alongside him, one memory stands out: you never saw TJ without a smile on his face. His joy was contagious, and his love for his teammates turned games into family gatherings.
At his memorial, many of those same Pasadena High School teammates were in attendance—once again standing shoulder to shoulder, not on the field this time, but in honor of the brother they lost too soon.
🏈 A Father’s Legacy: Coach Lavell “TIP” Sanders Sr.
TJ was the son of Lavell “TIP” Sanders Sr., a name that carries weight across Pasadena athletics. Coach TIP has been a beloved high school football coach for decades—an assistant and head coach at schools like Pasadena High, Marshall, Blair, and Duarte.
At Blair High School, Coach TIP led the Vikings to a 9–2 record and a co-Rio Hondo League Championship—their best season in more than a decade.
At Marshall and Duarte, he was known as a rebuilder, reviving struggling programs and starting fresh with younger athletes to build lasting success.
Along the way, Coach TIP mentored countless young men, including future NFL players like Chris McAlister and Chidi Iwuoma, both Pasadena High alumni and Super Bowl champions.
Coach TIP was described as “dynamic and charismatic,” a man who could inspire athletes to believe in themselves. That same charisma and resilience lived on in TJ.
👮 A Career of Service
Beyond the field, TJ dedicated his adult life to service. In November 2018, he began his career with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) as a youth correctional counselor at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility. When the Division of Juvenile Justice closed in June 2023, TJ transferred to the California Institution for Men (CIM), where he served as a Correctional Officer until his passing.
His colleagues remembered him not only as a professional but as a brother-in-uniform who uplifted others, even while privately fighting his own health battles.
❤️ Family Man First
While TJ’s career and community impact were remarkable, those who knew him best will tell you his greatest pride was his family. He leaves behind his wife, Nicole Nash Sanders, and their three children.
He was described as a man with a kind heart, someone who put his family before everything else. Even in his hardest moments battling cancer, he remained a source of strength, joy, and comfort for those around him.
🌍 A Community Saying Goodbye
Complete with an honorable 21-gun-salute, the turnout at his service was a reflection of a life well-lived and a spirit that touched many. Former Pasadena High School teammates, lifelong friends, extended family, colleagues from CDCR, and community members all came together to honor a man whose presence will forever be missed.
His smile, his laughter, and his ability to make others feel welcome will be remembered as his true legacy.
💛 Supporting the Sanders Family
To support Nicole and their three children during this difficult time, a GoFundMe campaign was organized by Amy Kelly on behalf of the family. As of today, the campaign has raised over $16,000 from more than 100 donations, showing just how loved and respected TJ was.
The funds will help Nicole and the children maintain stability in their home and ease the financial burden during this period of grief.
➡️ You can support the family by visiting the campaign here: GoFundMe
✨ Rest in Power
Lavell “TJ” Sanders Jr. was more than a son, husband, father, teammate, and officer—he was a light in the community. His roots run deep in Pasadena, carried on through his father’s coaching legacy, his own years at Pasadena High, and the countless lives he touched in and beyond the city.
He leaves behind lessons in resilience, family, and love. And though his time here was cut short, his spirit will live on in the community that raised him, the teammates who loved him, and the family that will continue his legacy.
Rest in peace, TJ. You will never be forgotten. 🌹
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