Eddie Samcoff

Eddie Samcoff, born and raised in Bryte, by William and Helen Samcoff, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2018. He was a *rising baseball star of West Sacramento in the 1940s, and an old-timer of Fair Oaks at the last. Eddie was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He served his country dutifully as a WWll Marine Veteran and contributed toward our country's culture and history as a Pacific Coast League baseball star and Major League baseball player. In the end, he happily forfeited the riches of his 93 years here on earth for the joy of eternal riches with his Savior in heaven and being reunited with his wife and son. Together, they all now "truly live!" Eddie enjoyed a full and productive life, blessed with an ever-growing family and many friends to love and who loved him deeply in return. He has friends and family in California, Nevada, and Colorado who will greatly miss him. He is preceded by His wife, Rita, and by his son, Billy, and he is survived by his three daughters: Laurie Susmilch, Cindy DeSmet, and Chrissie Moreno; and by his three sons-in-law: Merl Susmilch, Bill DeSmet and Hector Moreno. He will be lovingly remembered by his ten grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. Eddie made his way into everyone's heart with his strong bear hugs, heart-felt concern for people's well-being, engaging personality, and his gentlemanly kindness. He was a real man; the model of men; the kind of men who made our nation great and our families strong; men who strive to lead with integrity and compassion and who are yet humble enough to be teachable and flexible enough to continually learn. Our dad's care for our sweet mom, especially at the end of her life, was an example to us of unwavering devotion and unflinching determination; just pure love. He endured the often overwhelming and exhausting physical demands of maneuvering and assisting Mom's every move; standing up, sitting down, laying down and shuffling around. Her muscle memory was all but gone. Mom's deteriorating mental capacity robbed him of reciprocal interaction and companionship, but he wouldn't leave her side or be derelict in his duty of love toward her. He completed his assignment when Mom passed away in 2012. He loved to get down on his knees and play with his kids and grandkids. He always had some entertaining antic up his sleeve. He taught his daughters how to dance and passed on his love of music and sports to all his family. He modeled for us what it means to be a servant-leader. Prayer was his strength, his stability, his dependence, especially in his last several years. His greatest decision was Christ, in his early 20s, and all the blessings that flowed from that into our lives too; happy marriages, secure children, bright futures, self-worth, thankfulness and purpose, not to mention eternal life! We miss our dad and feel the pain of a vacant space, but we know where our dad is and Who he's with, and we take comfort. We are sad that this day is in the shadow of Dad's passing, yet we are filled with joy in the knowledge of the Son's light that dispels all darkness! Raise a glass to families coming together in heaven and earth. Alleluia He is risen!! And because He lives, our Dad, Eddie Samcoff, is risen too! Family and friends are invited to celebrate Eddie's life at a Funeral mass at 10:30 am on Friday, April 20th at St Mel's Catholic Church on 4745 Pennsylvania Ave in Fair Oaks. *In honor of his baseball career, Eddie has a collection of photos on display at the West Sacramento Recreation Center on Jefferson Street.