Samuel Poppel

Samuel Poppel
1916-2013

LONGMEADOW, MA -- Samuel B. Poppel of Longmeadow, MA died Monday evening at the Jewish Nursing Home. He was born on September 14, 1916 in Lowell, MA, son of Mayer (Max) and Dora (Gaber) Poppel.

Educated in the Lowell public schools, and taking business classes in Boston, Sam worked his way up from the shipping room at A & P Corrugated Box Co. in Lowell, to sales and, ultimately, after he returned from service in World War II, to a position as sales manager at A & P Corrugated, and then at Mead Containers in Gardner, MA.

During World War II, he enlisted in the US Army but then entered the Army Air Corps, and served with the 8th Air Force, 392 Bomb Group, as a bombardier, flying out of Wendling, England on B-24 Liberators. He participated in and returned safely from 19 missions, but on March 18, 1944, a day of heavy casualties for the 8th Air Force in missions deep into southeast Germany, his plane, "The Late Date II," was severely damaged and unable to return, but, fortunately, was guided by its co-pilot to a crash landing in a farm field just south of the Rhine in Switzerland. Sam, a 1st lieutenant, was hospitalized with several injuries from which he recovered, but was forced, along with combatants from all the nations involved in the European conflict, to remain interned in Switzerland until near the end of the war. During that time, he was able to mingle with the local population and ultimately met Ruth Jakubowitsch of Basel, Switzerland, and fell in love.

Upon Sam's return to the States, he resumed his previous employment, but also corresponded with Ruth, and, in 1947, returned to Switzerland to ask her to marry him. The couple made their way to Lowell and were married there in October 1947. In 1959, Sam and Ruth moved their family to Leominster, MA, where, after a time, Sam bought and upgraded General Fibre Products, Co, located in Fitchburg, MA serving as the company's president until his retirement. Sam was active in numerous local organizations, including Kiwanis, Rotary and was a Mason. Besides family and work, he was deeply involved in the activities of his local synagogues, which included Temple Beth El in Lowell, and, after 1959, Agudat Achim in Leominster, where he served a term as President of the Congregation.

Sam and Ruth moved to Longmeadow, MA in 2004, and he then became a regular worshiper locally at Temple Beth El, engaging also in programs of adult education. He served on several committees at Glenmeadow.

Sam was predeceased by his son, James in 2002 and his sister, Lillian Hamburger and her husband, Mel. He is survived by Ruth, his wife of more than 66 years, his sons, Dr. David Poppel and his wife, Deborah of Ware, MA, and Mark Poppel of Albany, CA; his grandchildren, Benjamin, Zachary, and Rebecca Poppel and Max Poppel; his daughter-in-law, Deborah (Adler) Poppel; his niece, Suki Van Dijk, and his nephew, Seth Hamburger and their families.

Sam grew up when kerosene lamps were still present to light the home and lived to a time when he was able to study Talmud over the Internet. As a family man, a member of his community, both civic and religious, he lent his mind and his hand to guide his children and others by his example and his support.

POPPEL -- His funeral was held Thursday, January 9th at 10:30 AM at Temple Beth El in Springfield, MA with burial following at Temple Beth El Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. Shiva services will be Thursday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 PM at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow, MA. Sam's family suggests that memorial donations be sent to either Temple Beth El, 979 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108 or Congregation Agudat Achim, 268 Washington St., Leominster, MA 01453. For further information or directions, please visit ascherzimmerman.com.