Donald Edward Samuel

Donald Edward Samuel, June 12, 1931 - June 2, 2020. 

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Friend, Printer, Craftsman, Soldier, Leader, Athlete, Teacher, Volunteer, Catholic, Buckeye, Lambda Chi, Clevelander,

Husband of 61 years to Frances Ann (Nulick) Samuel. Father to Susan (Richard) Jambor, Nancy (John) McEwan, Julie (Wayne) Gold and Jim (Heidi) Samuel. Grandfather to Rich (Trisha) Jambor, Sarah (Tim) Gladieux and Jessica (Glen) Empie, Jack (Melissa) McEwan, Katy (Christian) Salmons, Molly McEwan and Kelly McEwan, Natalie (Trent) Smith, Robert Gold and Rachel Gold, Meg Samuel and Jules Samuel. Great-Grandfather to Miles Jambor, Evelyn and Olivia McEwan, Jude Salmons, and Mason Smith. Preceded in death by his parents Ed and Marion Samuel and sisters Dorthy Lick and Margie Samuel. 

Born June 12, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio, Donald E. Samuel was the youngest child of three and the only son of Ed and Marion Samuel. Don graduated in 1949 from Shore High School in Euclid, Ohio where he was student council president and earned varsity letters in football, track and was a member of the 1949 state champion wrestling team. 

In 1953, Don graduated with a B.S. in business administration from The Ohio State University. He wrestled for the Buckeyes at 128 pounds, was a member of the ROTC Corps of Cadets and was elected president of his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha. 

Don enjoyed a distinguished career in printing and the graphic arts beginning in his youth cutting scratch pads at A.S. Gilman Co. where his dad was superintendent. In 1946, Ed bought the George S. Rider & Son printing company,  founding E.T. Samuel Printers, Inc. Don worked there holidays and summers. 

Don was a commissioned Armor Officer in the United States Army. In 1955, he was called to active duty at Fort Knox, KY.  In 1957 he was transitioned to active reserves, rose to the rank of Captain and served in the 83rd Infantry Division. He was honorably discharged in 1963. 

In 1957, Don re-joined his dad at Samuel Printers, eventually becoming its president and owner. With Fran at his side, they ran ‘The Shop’ together (just like Ed and Marion) until retirement in 1995. 

Like his father, Don became an active member of the International Association of Printing House Craftsman (IAPHC). Joining the Cleveland chapter in 1954, he began continuous service in local board positions in 1957, eventually serving as president in 1968 and again in 1988. Don also served in board positions at the International level. He was also a member of the National Association of Litho Clubs (NALC) and served many local and district leaderships positions and becoming its president in1993. Throughout his career, Don received many honors and awards, most notably the International Association of Printing House Craftsman Member of the Year (1988); National Association of Litho Clubs National Member of the Year (1989) and, like his father, induction into the Cleveland Graphic Arts Hall of Distinction. 

Don was also passionately committed to his church and community. He served the Euclid Jaycees as trustee, state director and local president and, in 1963, was named outstanding local president. He went on to serve as the Jaycees Ohio vice president and a national director. In recognition of his years of service, he was honored by being made JCI Senator No. 3752. In 1965, Don was named the “Outstanding Young Man” of the City of Euclid. Don was also a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland for 20 years and served as vocational chairman, trustee and Chairman of the Rotarian Four-Way Test speech contest for many years. An active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church (now Our Lady of the Lake), Don served as Parish Council Chairman, PSR teacher, a member of the pre-Cana team, Eucharistic minister and an usher for over 30 years. Don and Fran moved to Chardon, Ohio in 1993 where they became active church parishioners at St. Mary’s Catholic Parish. 

Don’s true hobby was capturing and celebrating time with those he loved, most notably seen in his passion for photography, camping and jogging. He arrived camera-ready at every personal,  professional and association event in his life, capturing key moments, beauty, life and that which was occasionally awkward. From sea to shining sea, he drove his family countless times and tens of thousands of miles across the country, from the Canadian Rockies to the Florida Keys, living for time spent camping with family and friends, set fishing line, have an Old Fashioned, watch a beautiful sunrise. Don never gave up his determination and athleticism of his youth, lovingly yet firmly dragging his family and friends to 10K and 5-milers all over Ohio until his late 60’s. A proud Buckeye, Don remained actively supportive of The Ohio State University and rabidly opposed to Michigan. He served on the board and as the president of the Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland, a long standing member of the Presidents Club and attended every home and many away games until he had no physical strength left to do so. He was famously known for his tailgates in the St. John Arena parking lot in the same spot he obtained at 5 a.m. on Game Day no matter what the weather. 

A private Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Don’s life will be held at St. Catharine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 500 S. Gould Road, Columbus, Ohio 43209. 

He will be interred at a future date with military honors at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Road, Seville, Ohio 44273. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, Fran would like donations to be made in Don’s name to Mount Carmel Hospice c/o Mount Carmel Foundation 1144 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

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