Stephen Samuels

Stephen (Steve) Mitchell Samuels

Stephen (Steve) Mitchell Samuels passed away peacefully at his home near Battle Ground on Thursday, July 26th.

Family and friends remember Steve as a vibrant, inquisitive, wry-humored, caring guy.

Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1938, he spent his teen years in Huntington, Long Island. He did his undergraduate work at MIT, got his Ph.D. at Stanford, and then came to Purdue where he became known for his work on "the secretary problem." He retired in 2003 after 40 years as a Purdue Professor of Statistics & Math.

He loved to travel and play golf, and was a dedicated jogger up until December 2011. He enjoyed Wednesday night poker games with his Purdue colleagues, and in recent years was one of the "wise guys" who met for lunch and camaraderie on Thursdays at Nine Irish Brothers. Foremost was his love of family and friends.

As a retiree, he got involved as a volunteer with LUM's program helping foreign students and low income people with their taxes—a natural extension of his long-term support of many organizations working for fairness and equality.

He is survived by his wife Joan Mohr Samuels, his son Jordan Samuels (Carol Madey) grandkids Maddie and Ben, of Downers Grove, Ill., his daughter Ellen Samuels and grandson Charlie Samser, of Madison, Wis. He was predeceased by his first wife, Myra Jordan Samuels, in 1992.

Also surviving are his sister Jackie Fellows (Cliff), of Dana Point, Calif., and his stepson Rob Mohr (Anita Bicskei) and granddaughter Samantha, of Walnut Creek, Calif., and stepdaughter Tracie Brauer (Jeff) and granddaughters Jade and Brinlee, of Santee, Calif.

Donations can be made in his memory to Lafayette Urban Ministry at 420 N. 4th St., Lafayette, IN 47901 or the ACLU of Indiana at P.O. Box 2706, West Lafayette, IN 47906.

Date and place of a celebration of his life is yet to be determined.