Roger J. Samson

Roger J. Samson former Billerica High School teacher, coach, BHS, Track Coach of MA Hall of Famer; 74 NASHUA, NH Roger J. Samson, 74, former Billerica High School teacher and coach, of Nashua, died on Tuesday morning, October 28, 2008, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Mr. Samson was born on February 15, 1934, in Manchester, NH, son of the late Wilfrid and Yvonne (St. Pierre) Samson. He was a graduate of Manchester Central High School where he participated in cross-country and track and set numerous records in both. After high school, he continued his education at Keene Teachers College and received a Bachelor of Education Degree in Industrial Education. He is the husband of Sylvia Squier (Smith) Samson. They were married in Wallingford, Vermont on June 28, 1958 and celebrated their 50th anniversary. Mr. Samson was employed as an Industrial Arts Teacher and for several years was the Department Head at Billerica High School in the Town of Billerica, Massachusetts for 36 years until his retirement in June 1993. While at Billerica, he initiated a Cross-Country and Track Program in the fall of 1959 and coached cross-country for 25 years. In those 25 years, his teams' won the Merrimack Valley Cross-Country Championship nine times and came in 2nd nine times with the boys teams. With his girls teams they won two championships and came in 2nd three times in its initial six years. He received numerous awards including the induction into the Track Coaches of Massachusetts Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also installed into The Billerica High School Hall of Fame. Fraternally, he was a member and had served as treasurer of Knights of Columbus Council 122 and was a member of the Lafayette Club both of Nashua. At one time, he was a member of the Massachusetts Track Association, Gate City Grange and Brookline Grange. Mr. Samson was enlisted in the US Army Reserves from 1955 to 1963. He also had special interests in gardening in the summer in Vermont, fishing, bowling, and cribbage. Mr. Samson was predeceased by his sister, Irene (Samson) Petrin. In addition to his wife Sylvia of Nashua, NH, survivors include a daughter, Susan (Samson) Hogan and her husband, Timothy Hogan of Hudson, NH; three sons, David Samson and his wife, Sonja (Sundstrom) Samson of Milford, NH, Timothy Samson and his wife, Diane of Mont Vernon, NH, and Daniel Samson and his spouse, Tony Paine of Richardson, TX; 11 grandchildren, Sean and Brendon Hogan of Hudson, NH, Robin, Jenna and Paige Samson of Nashua, NH, Christopher and Megan Arsenault of Milford, NH, Rachel Samson of Milford, NH, Jeffrey Hubbard of Colorado, Jason Hubbard of Newmarket, NH, and Jared Hubbard of Mont Vernon, NH; a brother, Albert Samson and his wife, Pauline of Auburn, NH; two sisters, Germaine (Samson) Keefe of Manchester, NH, Laura (Samson) Kelley and her husband, Francis "Joe" Kelley of Manchester, NH; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. SAMSON Memorial Visitation will be held at Davis Funeral Home, One Lock St., Nashua on Friday from 4-7 P.M. A Memorial Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Parish, 216 E. Dunstable Rd., Nashua on Saturday at 11 A.M. Friends are asked to meet at the church. Interment Prayers and Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery, Nashua, NH. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation to: Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Rd., Merrimack, NH 03054 or St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements are in the care of DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua (www.davisfuneralhomenh.com.)