In Memory

James Samter



 
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02/06/13 06:22 PM #1    

David Fertik

I didn't really know Jimmy Samter personally.  He was in Mr. Stabley's English class Sophomore year sitting next to his beautiful future bride, Sheryl.  We sat on opposite sides of the room and I don't remember ever speaking with him. 

We had an intramural homeroom swim meet that year.  I was on our relay team and wanted to prove I was a good swimmer.  I really pushed myself to do a fast 50 meters.  As I climbed out of the pool I started feeling dizzy and saw black blotches everywhere.  Not wanting to look like an exhausted nerd by sitting down,  I just stood by the pool and tried to cheer on our homeroom.  I felt faint and put my head in my hands.

Someone  noticed my trouble and came over to me and like a coach asked, "Are you all right?"   He suggested I sit down and get my breath.  It was Jimmy.  (So many other Sophomores would have berated me for my frailty but Jimmy was mature and concerned.)  I never forgot Jimmy's caring voice.

Jimmy proved to a real leader and not just on the courts and playing fields.  Everyone respected him and he was often elected a class officer.  Wasn't he Homecoming king?

When I heard he had passed, I was deeply saddened.  Jimmy was like our class movie star: tall, handsome, athletic, talented.   He was a hero, an archetype to me and I could not imagine that one so blessed had left the field of play so early.


04/01/13 02:11 PM #2    

Jon Kugelman

It is with great sadness that I learned that Jimmy Samter had passed away.  Jimmy was one of my earliest and closest childhood friends, and it just seems unreal that I won't get to see him at the reunion.

Jimmy was so many things that I was not - like tall, handsome and athletic, just to name a few.  And yet, what I perhaps most admired about him was that he was never full of himself.  I always envisioned Jimmy being the mayor or police chief of a small town somewhere, because in addition to having a certain magnetism, I couldn't conceive of anyone not liking and respecting him.

 

 


05/28/13 10:35 AM #3    

Daniel Bronson

The things you remember. In second grade I slipped while running the bases in a handball game during recess at Shoemaker school and crashed head first into the iron stair railings, knocking myself senseless.  Jimmy wasn't in my class, but he was the one who took me to the office and waited until my older brother could be found to take me home. That's who he was.


05/29/13 07:58 PM #4    

Stanley Brody

I always thought Jimmy Samter was Ben Hur- or was it the other way around.  I was very saddened to hear of his passing.  Now they are both together, perhaps challenging each other to a chariot race. 

Stanley Brody 


05/29/13 10:48 PM #5    

George Trapp

Actually I never knew Jim personally, but he really had it all as an athlete. If I'm not mistaken he was the male Holden Award winner in 1963. What impresses me more is discovering what a fine person he was as seen thru the eyes of schoolmates who have exposed his true character in remembering uncommon maturity, concern and kindnesses exhibited by Jim as a schoolboy. HS is a small pond. As one ages one discovers just how many gifted intellects and gifted athletes are in the larger pond, however persons of the character that Jim is remembered for here are always much more rare. 


05/31/13 06:28 AM #6    

Jessica Lobel (Kahn)

Jimmy took a summer school class in French at Temple and so did I. A group of us ate lunch together a few times a week at some dive on Broad Street. One day Jimmy wasn't feeling well -- complaining of nausea and pain. Later that day he had an appendectomy, and I think was back to school in a few days. ...I really liked him -- tall and handsome and funny, and very very nice.


06/01/13 10:39 AM #7    

Kenneth Welt

Jimmy was a really good guy and sorry to hear he is gone


06/02/13 06:33 PM #8    

Jerald Solot

43-40  do you recall that Abington had already made all the arrangements for their playoff game. all they needed to do was beat Cheltenham in the annual battle.  with the help of not only Jim, but Gus Friedman, Gene Waldman, Bucky Walters, and Bart Isenberg we sent them home without a victory. Jim was a great team mate and an even better friend. we should also remember Bart who set sail never to return.


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