Don Searle Samuelson, 73, of Lake Forest, died April 4, 2015. Mr. Samuelson was born June 6, 1941 in Chicago. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College class of '62 and the University of Chicago Law School class of '67. He was a lawyer, real estate developer, legal recruiter and president of DSSA. Beloved husband of Nancy Dell'Aringa Samuelson; dear father of Christopher (Katherine) and Scott (Tricia); proud grandfather of 7; brother of William; son of the late Ruth and Searle Samuelson. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Love INC Lake County, 339 Lakewood Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085. Funeral services 10:00, Thursday, April 16 at Christ Church, 100 N. Waukegan Rd, lake Forest, IL 60045. Info. Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest www.wenbanfh.com or (847) 234-0022.

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Published by Chicago Tribune from Apr. 12 to Apr. 16, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Don Samuelson

25 Entries

Nancy Samuelson

July 8, 2025

It has been 10 years since you left for your heavenly home and I miss you more every day. You will never be forgotten my love.

Nancy Samuelson

April 7, 2024

"We loved with a love that was more than love." Edgar Allan Poe

Until we meet again, my love

Dave Papritz

January 7, 2024

I am sorry to have not known of Don's passing now several years ago. He was a very good friend of my wife Lea and I many years ago in the mid and late 80's. He was an amazing ,encouraging, energetic friend and mentor. A savvy business person and a caring and thoughtful person. I am grateful for the positive impact he had on our lives and pray peace for his family.

Nancy Samuelson

April 5, 2023

As you had engraved in my wedding band, "More today than yesterday, greater tomorrow than today"
Until we meet again

Nancy Samuelson

April 4, 2022

I miss you every day of every year. You are never forgotten.....until we meet again

Egils Milbergs

December 19, 2021

Don was brilliant! He had a deep understanding that public housing could be a launchpad for well paying and high quality jobs. He was a terrific supporter of my work setting up a network of after school centers in Chicago. I valued his counsel and his love of Swedish rock group ABBA My sincere condolences. Egils

Nancy Samuelson

April 8, 2021

Although you are out of sight, you are never out of my thoughts. Love you forever.
Your Bunny

Nancy Samuelson

April 6, 2020

I love you more today than yesterday, greater tomorrow than today....

Little Bunny

Nancy Samuelson

April 6, 2019

You are loved and missed every day. Till we meet again....❤❤❤❤❤❤

March 7, 2017

I just saw Don's obituary. I had the privilege of working for him as a legal recruiter for four years. He was an electric personality and a great teacher, tremendously respected, always pushing his recruiters, and his candidates to do more, and to do better.

Karen McNerney Duale
London, UK
March, 2017

March 6, 2017

Don was an amazing thinker. A hard worker and a joy to work with. He developed important ideas on how to serve low income communities and housing projects with the internet, education apps and STEM skills.

Larry Bailey

May 27, 2015

I have fond memories of Don and our years together at Dartmouth,especially as fraternity brothers of Kappa Sig.He was very bright,friendly,creative and engaging.He made everyone feel like they were a good friend.I am sure all his Dartmouth friends mourn his loss deeply.
My sincerest condolences to Don's family at this most terrible time.
Larry Bailey
President of the Dartmouth Class of 1963

Philip Holman

April 23, 2015

Some years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and working with Don on an educational project here in Washington, D.C., designed to empower African Americans economically. It was indeed a privilege. Don possessed a brilliant intellect and an encyclopedic mind. He had the unusual ability to analyze, comprehend, distill and simplify a range of diverse, complicated information, data, research and policies. On top of that, he was an imaginative problem solver, who remained ever mindful of the need to temper creativity with pragmatism. Don was always busy, always fleshing out a new idea, always probing and always poised to launch a new venture. But he was never too preoccupied to squeeze few minutes out of his high-octane scheduled to discuss and offer his customary fresh--but thoughtful and strategic--insights into a smorgasbord of vexing social, economic and political questions. Combined with that, Don was friendly, personable, engaging and, above all, persuasive. A man of large social conscience, he had a gift for making people from every walk of life feel special. In the time we worked together, I learned a great deal from Don. Mainly, l learned to never underestimate the importance of exuding unshakable quiet confidence, painstaking preparation, worshiping accurate facts and information, conducting lucid analyses and thinking outside box. Clearly, Don had many fine virtues. However, the two that made him unique and put him in a league all of his own was that he was not only a remarkably intelligent social engineer, but also a Good Samaritan. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

April 22, 2015

Don Samuelson was the one and only person in our law school class (University of Chicago Law School 1967) that was liked by everybody. I wish I could say that of myself!
Richard L. Bowler
5513 Carmelita NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111
505-296-7395
[email protected]

Johhnie Muhammad

April 15, 2015

An indescribably thoughtful and committed professional who constantly pushed the envelope of creativity and innovation. His special quality was taking an interest in and inspiring others to create change. Farewell good friend.

April 15, 2015

On behalf of my husband, Phillip, and other members of the Howard Family, I extend sincere condolences for the loss of your loved one---DON.

He will, always, be remembered as an unrelenting technology advocate who was passionate about "eliminating the digital divide".

R.I.P. Don.

Retired State Representative Constance A. "Connie" Howard

April 15, 2015

Enjoyed working with Don on the New Englewood Terrence Project it was Don who made people who lived in the building life a little better.

Hal Baskin,

Paula Robinson

April 14, 2015

Never too busy to share a strategy. Will miss your opinions and emails.

April 14, 2015

What a wonderful unique man! We are all honored to have known him. My sincere condolences to his family. Andy Vass

April 14, 2015

I've known Don since the late 1990s. He was a champion of the disadvantaged and of the potential for internet connections to narrow gaps between disadvantage and opportunity. He consistently showed interest and encouraged me in my own work. He was a great network builder, connecting people he knew to each other. He will be missed.

Pierre Clark

April 14, 2015

I knew Don Samuelson for more than 20 years. I met him in the work we did providing access to technology and technology resources to communities lacking equitable access to those important tools and resources in this digital age. Don, in my opinion was a giant of our industry. His contributions toward the goals of equitable access, knowledge and training for all groups of people were monumental and long lasting and impacted and continue to impacted tens of thousands of people in Illinois and across the country. He was a great connector and facilitator of relationships and one of the most brilliant men I ever knew, with a heart as big as his intellect. I always told him he was a rarity - smart, clever and educated. Very few human beings are all three. He was one of the few. It was a privilege to know him.

Charles Boyce

April 14, 2015

Don was a very bright and brilliant intellect who was a joy to talk with. I truly enjoyed working him on special projects. He was very intense and precise. His presence will forever be among us.