Earl Delos Sampson

1935 - 2018

Earl Sampson, retired Professor of Russian Language and Literature at the University of Colorado-Boulder, died recently at his home in Boulder. He was 83 years old. Earl was a 60- year Boulder resident and 5th generation Coloradoan whose Cornish maternal ancestors came to Boulder County in the middle of the 19th century to mine silver in Caribou. Born in Rifle, CO January 26, 1935, he was the son of Charles Earl Sampson and Effie Marie Harvey Sampson. He graduated from Rifle Union High School in 1952; he found his true calling when drafted into the Army and sent to study Russian at the Defense Language Institute at Monterey, CA. After his service in Germany he entered Harvard University, where he completed a Ph.D. degree in Russian literature in 1968. He was a member of the professorial staff at the University of Colorado from 1963 to 1994. Earl's devotion to scholarship was legendary - a book and later a Kindle were always near at hand. In addition to scholarly articles and presentations, Earl wrote a critical biographical study of Nikolai Gumilev, a leading Silver Age Russian poet, and translated Alexander Pushkin's History of the Pugachev Rebellion from Russian. Earl's love of Russian was eclipsed by his love and devotion for his wife, Eleni (nee Callas). Earl eagerly joined his wife's Greek family and actively participated in Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox community in Boulder. Earl and Eleni's shared dedication to scholarship, teaching, family, love of animals and travel made for an uncommonly tender bond. Her love for him was repaid over the 25 years of her increasing incapacity from multiple sclerosis. Earl's devotion and care took an enormous personal toll, but the high quality of Eleni's life was sustained to the very end. Earl is survived by his sister, Peggy Harrold, and nephews Chuck and Bob Sampson, and Sherman Harrold, and niece Kathy Harrold Hickok, and their families. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his wife, his brother, Harvey, his brother-in-law John Harrold, and his nephew, Brent Harrold. He was "Theo Earl" to his many nieces and nephews on the Callas side, where he is survived by three brothers-in-law: George Callas of California, and Panayoti Kelaidis and Allan Taylor of Colorado, and their children and grandchildren. Gifts in Earl's memory may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church, the Boulder Humane Society and the University of Colorado. Services Trisagion Memorial Service - Sunday, July 22nd at 7:00 p.m.; Crist Mortuary 3395 Penrose Place in Boulder, 80301. Funeral Service - Monday, July 23rd at 11:00 at Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church; 5640 Jay Road in Boulder, 80301. Internment in Green Mountain Cemetery, Boulder.