Larry Ira Samuels
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Larry Ira Samuels, 71, of Chestertown, MD, died of complications from Mesothelioma lung cancer at the Stella Maris Hospice Center in Timonium, MD on March 28, 2022. A loving husband, father, father-in-law, uncle, brother, brother-in-law, and community volunteer, he is the son the late Lester and Sunny Samuels of Loch Sheldrake, NY. He was born August 2, 1950, in Queens, NY and spent most of his life, until the age of 62, in Brooklyn, NY before the family relocated to Chestertown in 2008.
Following graduation from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn in 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, from 1971 - 1975 receiving an Honorable Discharge, having served on a destroyer and a destroyer escort during the Vietnam War. His rating was Boiler Tender, operating and repairing high pressure steam plants to run the ship's main engines and generators, achieving the rate of E-5 / Petty Officer 2nd Class.
Following his active duty, he worked for three years at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a Boilermaker repairing several ships of various classes. Returning to college under the G.I. Bill, he was graduated with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts (AA), as well as an Associate Degree in Mechanical Technology (AAS). He also tested for and obtained a Refrigeration Machine Operator's License issued by the New York City Fire Department in 1983.
He secured his career position in 1985 as the Facilities and Construction Coordinator for the Queens Public Library in New York City involving sixty-eight neighborhood library buildings constructed from 1903 to current year and five Adult Learning Centers.
Among his volunteer activities were as the former Secretary of the Board of Directors since 2013 until 2020 for the Bayside H.O.Y.A.S., Inc. (Helping Our Youth Achieve Success), a 501 (c) 3 youth character development and academic mentoring program. He served, since 2013-2019 as the former Secretary and then as former President of the Board of Directors at Crossroads Community, Inc., a non-profit organization providing services and advocacy in five counties on the Eastern Shore for adults with mental, behavioral, and recovery health issues. He was also a substitute teacher for seven years and served in various capacities for Shrewsbury Parish in Kennedyville, MD and the Diocese of Easton.
Recognizing his overall contributions to the fabric of our community, he was presented in 2017 with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Chester Valley Ministers Association (CVMA), of which he is a member.
His artistic accomplishments included the publication of four short story and essay collections under his authorship illuminating the triumphs and regrets of relationships, the intensities of emotional uncertainties, while framing these against the background of selected history. He was a contributing editor for several other published fiction and non-fiction books while participating as the coordinator for the Wordsmiths Writers Group in Chestertown.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-four years, Marguerite Anne Samuels (aka Peg), an ordained Reverend Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Easton, currently serving at St. Paul's Church in Centreville. He is also survived by their son Paul Henry, his fianc? Hannah Sturtz, daughter Rebecca Marie, and her husband David Worth. His brother Steve and sister-in-law Linda Samuels live in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, and his sister, Caren Samuels, lives in Towson. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, two nephews, a grandnephew and a grandniece.
Among so many of his community service and family accomplishments, he was especially grateful that he had the opportunity to provide sensitive, meaningful and insightful instruction, assistance, and caring for the many student "cherubs" throughout the school systems, and for his own children. He is also grateful to all family members and health care providers at all levels who were able to provide overwhelmingly helpful and caring services during his illness. In lieu of flowers or other contributions, donations may be designated for Bayside H.O.Y.A.S., Inc., 104 Spring Ave. P.O. Box 6, Chestertown, MD 21620 or baysidehoyas.org.
A viewing will be held on Monday, April 4 from 10 am to 12 pm at the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, 118 W. Cross St. Galena, MD, Burial with Military Honors will follow at 12:30 pm in Shrewsbury Cemetery, Kennedyville, MD, with his celebration of life service at 1 pm in Shrewsbury Parish Church.