Samuel Givens Dawson

1930 - 2013

Dawson, Samuel Givens SAN DIEGO -- Samuel Givens Dawson passed away at 6 am May 28th after a yearlong battle with cancer, just 16 days after the passing of his dear sister, Nancy Dawson Schneider of Poway. Sam was born to Ada Marie Kelly Dawson and Thomas Givens Dawson on October 18, 1930 at Mercy Hospital in San Diego. Sam was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Nancy; his son, David who died in 1997; and his son, Patrick who died July 17th, just 50 days after his father's passing. Sam and Nancy lived on Cypress Way in the Hillcrest area and found many lifelong friendships as they grew up with San Diego in a most memorable time for the city and America. Sam graduated from San Diego High School in the Class of 1948. He attended San Diego State University and graduated in 1952 with a degree in Business Administration. That same year, Sam married Joan Anne O'Mahony and they were blessed with five children, John, Patrick, David, Terry and Shirley. Joan Anne left the family when Shirley was a baby in diapers and Sam raised the children on his own on 60 acres he purchased in 1951 in the East County area of Rancho San Diego called Hidden Mesa, which he named. After graduating from San Diego State, Sam secured a position as purchasing agent for Ryan Aeronautical near the San Diego Airport. He delivered newspapers from his 1948 Ford truck in the early morning hours before reporting to work at Ryan to make ends meet. The Dawson children pulled together as a team to make sure that the home was always kept to their father's strict standards neat and tidy, everything in its place. Sam deserves much admiration and respect for his resolve and dedication in keeping the Dawson family together, safe and prosperous during these trying times. Aunt Nancy helped with Sunday dinners and Holidays, creating special memories with the Dawson and Schneider children that endure today. All of the Dawson children loved Aunt Nancy and felt so blessed to be a part of her family. Classic automobiles played a big part throughout Sam's 82 years. Packard's, Citroen's, Cadillac's, Porsche's, Mercedes Benz, Sam loved them all and motorcycles, too. Ariel Square Four, Triumph and Ducati, he was an active rider into his late 70's. He enjoyed traveling to the Barrett- Jackson car shows with his good friends, Don, Pete, Roger and Bob. Sam Dawson was a tall, handsome man with enormous charisma and a sense of humor that never failed him even to the end. And the hardest working man you'll ever meet. When the taxes started to rise on his land in Hidden Mesa, he started to build homes his first by hand with no electricity. As the taxes would go up he would subdivide, build a home and sell it. Soon, nearly all of his original acreage was built out and the community of Hidden Mesa was filled with families and all that comes with that... neighbors, friendships and life experiences to fill everyone's heart with memories to cherish forever. Sam was a marvel of an entrepreneur, sales- man and businessman. It seemed that everything he touched turned to gold. After he left Ryan, he started AD Electronics with his best friend from high school, Don Allen. With many years of success in electronics he started DF Labs and invented the Temp-Away Thermometer Sheath. He spent months at a time driving across America in his Cadillac selling the Temp-Away to doctor's offices in every state, while his children kept their home running smoothly. He sold the Temp-Away product line to Becton-Dickenson and started Heliotrope General in 1974. Solar was always a passion of Sam's and he built Heliotrope to be a giant in the industry with more than 100 solar products. Heliotrope General is still in operation today with the Helio-Matic solar controller product line. Sam's Ranch in Dulzura was a completely off grid solar home that spun his SDG&E meter backwards. Sam Dawson was a true visionary in the Solar Industry. Many owe their success and good fortune to his herculean endeavors. In the later years of Sam's life at the Ranch, he turned to another of his passions, wine. He traveled to UC Irvine to secure select varietals of grapes and embarked upon a quest to become a vintner and master wine crafter, which he did. His grapevines grew to become Givens Vinery in Dulzura and his petite syrah wine was bottled under the Flying Kite label and sold to restaurants throughout San Diego. Sadly, Sam lost his ranch and vineyard to the Harris Fire in 2007. Sam loved everything about San Diego and spent his time between his condo on the bay in South Mission Beach and the Ranch in Dulzura. After the ranch burned, Sam moved to Mission Hills and renovated a 100 year old house not far from the original family home and near his birthplace at Mercy Hospital. At his Mission Hills home, Sam took up oil painting with his usual resolve creating a number of memorable works that grace the homes of family and friends. With Sam and Nancy passing so closely together and Patrick following so quickly after, this has been a tender and nearly unbearable time for the Dawson and Schneider families. We wish to thank every family member and all of our wonderful friends for their support and prayers understanding that this too shall pass and we can look to brighter and happier days ahead. Sam is survived by many who loved him, he will always be kept alive in our hearts. Heartfelt thanks to the nurses at the Hospice House in Del Cerro. Their professional and compassionate attention helped Terry to see her father to his final breath, enveloped in love and gratitude. A fitting departure for a very special man who meant so much to so many people. A life celebration for Sam took place at the family condo in South Mission Beach on Father's Day. His ashes have been spread the length and breadth of San Diego County, in all the places he loved the most.