Samuel W. Salus

Salus Samuel W., II Age 91, beloved father, brother and friend, died peacefully in his home May 31, 2025 in Savannah, GA. He is survived by his two sons and their families: Eric Salus and daughter-in-law Shona Macdonald, grandchildren Isla, Bram and Fenno; Christopher Salus and daughter-in-law Samantha Salus, grandchildren Maxwell and Eliza. Kathryn Simon Salus, his loving wife, predeceased him on December 20th, 2021. Samuel was born July 11, 1933 to father Arthur Stuart Salus and mother Eleanor Ritter Salus, and was raised in the Rittenhouse Square section of Philadelphia with his younger sister Liane Salus Kohn. He was nicknamed Skip after his grandfather and namesake, Sam Salus, who served as PA State Senator and State Representative after a life in law. Skip graduated magna cum laude at Germantown Academy before earning his B.A. at Cornell University through the R.O.T.C. After completing two years of commission as Lieutenant with the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet, he entered University of Pennsylvania Law School and graduated in 1960 to pursue a career as a third generation lawyer. Skip co-founded the law firm of Koch, Phelps and Salus while also serving as Chief Public Defender in Montgomery County PA from 1966-79. He was elected as trial judge for the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in 1980, where he presided until his retirement in 2004. He was director of the Montgomery County Bar Association from 1970-74, and President of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges from 1998-99. Skip shared his life-long enthusiasm for golf and tennis with his wife Kathryn, and enjoyed these passions year-round when they relocated to Georgia. Savannah perfectly satisfied their love of early American history and antiquities. He joined the Kiwanis Club of Skidaway and tutored at-risk students among other charitable activities for the local community. Skip and Kate traveled extensively abroad whenever possible, in addition to visiting their children in Chicago and Western Massachusetts, and were fortunate to have lasting friendships in both Philadelphia and Savannah to share in their adventures.