State Senator Will Haskell’s Office

Today, Westport leaders including State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport) and First Selectman Jim Marpe celebrated the life of Khaliq Sanda by announcing that State Bridge 00067, carrying Hills Point Road over Interstate 95, will be named in his honor. Khaliq graduated from Staples in 2014 and was a participant in the A Better Chance of Westport program. In March of this year, he passed away after battling a cancer diagnosis that came in May 2016. 

"Khaliq left an indelible mark on Westport, enriching our town with his kindness, humor and grace,” said Sen. Haskell. Walking through the halls at Staples, it seemed that every student and teacher knew and admired him. In the wake of his passing, I had an opportunity to work with just a few of the many people who loved him to name this bridge in his honor. For those who pass by it each day, I hope it will remind us of his optimism and compassion, bringing out the best of Westport -- a town Khaliq loved and a town that loved him."

“Khaliq was an outstanding individual who had his future tragically cut short by cancer. During his time in Westport, he made a positive impact on our community - Khaliq was beloved by his peers and excelled in the classroom. He will be sorely missed. Naming a road in Khaliq's honor will ensure his life and legacy will never be forgotten," said Rep. Steinberg.

“While I didn’t know Khaliq personally, my understanding from those who knew him well was that he was a talented, deeply compassionate, energetic young man who had a passion for education, community service and a zest for life," said First Selectman Marpe. "It speaks volumes that Khaliq was so highly respected and possessed strong leadership qualities – these are his legacies. Now, he is further recognized with the honor of having this bridge named for him so that his kind heart and good works will be memorialized for generations to come.”

Khaliq Sanda’s Obituary, March 2021

Khaliq Melle Sanda was born on September 7th, 1996 in New York City to Angela and Oumarou Sanda. Khaliq attended Craig Elementary and Alton C Crews middle school both in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Due to his academic excellence, he was accepted as a Scholar into the A Better Chance of Westport program where he attended Staples High School in Westport, CT. When he arrived at Staples High School in 2010 as a freshman, Khaliq Sanda brought with him his contagious joy, quick wit and genuine warmth. At the beginning of his high school career, he became involved in Peer Advisors, an after-school group that allowed students to discuss issues and share stories. Through this organization, Khaliq fostered friendships with people from all over the Staples community. These bonds came easily to Khaliq—his friends recall that he loved people and people loved to love him.

This love for Khaliq spread like wildfire throughout the Westport community. He acted as a unifier amongst his classmates—"knowing Khaliq” was a common catalyst for Staples students forming new friendships. As a student, he was responsible, hardworking and exceptionally bright. Despite his course load, Khaliq managed to effortlessly excel in school. His teachers at Staples High School were not immune to his infectious charm. He was a presence in the classroom—expressing his ideas with eloquence, while also making his teachers laugh. He could be seen in the library helping friends with homework and making plans for the weekend. Khaliq worked as a tutor for younger students in the Westport community and served as a role model for many. Always an advocate for his peers, he was involved with Key Club, a philanthropic organization that serves the local community, as well as Student Assembly where he helped make decisions for the Staples student body.

He was a champion for others in everything that he did. Khaliq’s accomplishments at Staples were impressive, including outstanding grades and many leadership positions, but his true superpower was connecting with others. Khaliq’s ability to connect with people knew no bounds. In addition to his biological and his host families, Khaliq was a son, brother and nephew to so many. His sincerity transcended generations; his friends fondly remember the relationships he cultivated with their family members—grandparents and younger siblings alike. He lived authentically and his support encouraged his friends to do the same. When those close to him needed advice, Khaliq knew how to listen intently and guide them in the right direction. He was a confidant to all. He graduated from Staples High School as a beloved member of the Class of 2014 and a cherished member of the Westport community.

Khaliq then attended Duke University where he pursued a Bachelors degree in Global Health and Biology. He was devoted to his goal of going to medical school and ultimately becoming a psychiatrist, and it was no surprise that he excelled in his courses. In a matter of weeks after arriving at college, Khaliq morphed into the undisputed “King of Duke.” Seemingly uninhibited by normal social fears, he naturally established deeply-rooted relationships with everyone he met. He displayed his endless love for Duke by mentoring younger students on campus, acting as a tour guide, and serving as social chair for his fraternity, Sigma Nu. He worked tirelessly to graduate on time with his friends, overloading courses to make up for time spent getting treatment.

In conversations with his Duke friends remembering Khaliq, there is one word that consistently comes up: lucky. Lucky to have had a once-in-a-lifetime friend who made each one of them feel like the most special person in the world. Khaliq’s capacity to love far exceeded your average person’s, and his immense influence could be felt even when he was nowhere near. He pushed his friends to be funny, loving, kind, open-minded and confident. He was not simply loved and respected by his friends, he was adored. His legacy is everywhere. In his own words, he was iconic.

Upon graduation from Duke University in 2018, Khaliq accepted a position as a Community Outreach Coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, where he dedicated himself to clinical research, enrolling taxi drivers for a program focused on reducing hypertension in New York City, the city that he loved. His city.

Our brilliant, funny and compassionate Khaliq is now on a new journey. We have no doubt that the former Mayor of Westport and King of Duke will soon be a reigning prince in his new destination.

While a great and beautiful light has been extinguished, we take comfort in knowing that his kind, caring and generous spirit lives on powerfully in the many friends and relatives who were blessed to know him.

He touched and enriched so many lives - bringing joy and laughter as well as knowledge and insight to all he met. He saw the best in us - even when we didn't - and made us want to be better and do better. It was his loving friendship that quietly motivated us - again often without us even realizing it - to live up to our ideals and achieve our promise. Khaliq defined courage, character and grace. He faced unimaginable adversity with extraordinary humor, patience and strength. He will be missed but his memory will endure in the actions of all who knew him and loved him.

Khaliq is preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, maternal grandmother and grandfather. He is survived by his parents’ Angela and Oumarou Sanda, surrogate parents Lori and David Sochol, siblings Kimbo, Stanley, Abdul, Eposi and Mairo and several Aunts, Uncles, cousins and a host of other loving family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, a fund to support adolescents and young adults with the costs associated with personal and family expenses during treatment for lung and other related cancers has been established in Khaliq’s memory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Donations can be made using the following link: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/KhaliqSanda