Dr. Thomas Samuels of Fisherman’s Beach, Cutchogue died at home on July 19, 2016 surrounded by his family and caregivers. He will long be remembered as a part of the East End’s business, civic and boating communities.
He was born in Brooklyn on July 21, 1928, the son of Alexander and Henrietta Samuels. He attended Brooklyn Tech, Fordham and Columbia University where he graduated with a degree in dentistry.
On December 27, 1952 he married Anita Matie Keim and shortly after began service as a dental officer in the Untied States Air Force. He was stationed on Okinawa during the Korean War. Returning to the states, he set up a dental practice in Forest Hills and lived in the Gardens. In 1955 son Peter Alexander was born, in 1957 son Thomas Christian, and in 1959 daughter Nancy Ann.
He was an athlete who swam competitively. As an avid sports fan, Tom passionately loved the New York Giants, whose season tickets he held for over 40 years. He closely followed the New York Rangers, the Brooklyn Dodgers, then the New York Yankees, but would watch any ball game of sports even with insight and relish.
In 1962 the family purchased a summer house on Fisherman’s Beach, Nassau Point in Cutchogue and would spend summers there on the beach and the water. Tom became an expert fisherman both inshore and off, catching swordfish, marlin, tuna, sharks and whatever could be hooked. He campaigned his boat White Wake in numerous tournaments from Shinnecock to Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts. Later Tom took up sailing and local racing, achieving success around Robins Island in the King of the Bays and numerous Peconic Bay Sailing Association events aboard Skilligalee.
In 1972 while having his boat slip reconstructed by local marine contractor James Rambo, Tom Samuels decided to make a major life change, buying the business, giving up dentistry and moving the family east full-time. Together with his partner Chuck Guilloz he set up shop in Southampton, and known as “Doc Samuels,” soon became a major player on the East End waterfront, building docks, revetments and piling foundations along the ocean and bays. His expertise in regulatory approvals and plain-spoken approach to problem-solving led to political involvement, culminating in the chairmanship of the Southold Town Republican Committee in the early 1990s.
Predeceased by his son Peter, he is survived by Anita, his wife of 64 years, son Tom and daughter-in-law Nancy Steelman, daughter Nancy Kelley, and grandchildren Kate and Erik Samuels and Lindsey and Erin Kelley.
Visiting hours will be from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, followed there by a memorial service led by Richard King, pastor at Cutchogue Presbyterian Church, with burial at the Cutchogue Cemetery immediately after.
Memorial donations may be made to the Cutchogue Fire Department Rescue Squad.
