Henry T. "Harry" Sampson

Henry T. "Harry" Sampson, 94, of Stoneham, died Sunday, August 3 at his home surrounded by loved ones. Born in Malden on March 30, 1920 he was the son of the late James H. and Kate (Hughes) Sampson. Harry was raised in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School. After school, he joined the CCC and later the Army Air Corps; where he was a member of the unit that stormed the beaches in the invasion of Normandy on D Day, although he himself did not arrive there until August. During the 60th reunion of the invasion, Harry was awarded a medal by the people of France. After the war he worked in construction and then went to work for the Stoneham Housing Authority, where he spent 47 years and worked his way up to Maintenance Supervisor. He also served as President of the Massachusetts Association of Housing Authority Maintenance Supervisors. Harry was heavily involved in the Stoneham community and over the years had coached Little League baseball and was involved with Stoneham Pee Wee Hockey. He was a former President of the Stoneham Lions Club and a member of St. Patrick's St. Vincent de Paul Society. He served on the Stoneham Board of Appeals as a member and later, as an alternate and a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. He served as Treasurer of St. Patrick's Stoneham Drill Team in the 1960's and became involved in Eastern Mass. Jr. Drum & Bugle Corps Association in the 70's, later serving as its Chief Coordinator until 2011. He was involved in the formation of Winter Guard International, later serving as its Chief Timing and Penalty Judge, Treasurer, Regional Director and Contest Coordinator. This was Harry's passion. Harry married the girl next door, the late Virginia (Tuschner) Sampson, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage. Together they had three children, Patricia Strachan of Stoneham, Henry "Skip" Sampson and his wife Pauline of Fort Myers, FL, and Robert Sampson and his wife Ann Marie of Stoneham. He was the grandfather of Robert Longo, Jr. and his wife Juliet of Monroe Township, NJ, Debora Longo and her boyfriend John Patterson of Wakefield, Jason Longo and his wife Patty of Seattle, WA, Carrie Curran and her husband Richie of Wakefield, Christopher Sampson of Stoneham, and Nicholas Sampson and his fiancée Amy Curran of Medford. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Corey Longo and Mason Curran of Wakefield and many loving nieces and nephews. He was the brother of Helen Corrigan and her husband Jack of Somerville, Richard Sampson and his wife Elizabeth of Arlington, and the late Margaret Shine, Ruth Sampson, and Robert Sampson. His funeral will be held from the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main St., Stoneham on Friday at 9am followed by a funeral mass in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St., Stoneham at 10am. A visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-8pm. Interment, Lindenwood Cemetery, Stoneham. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Harry's name to Development Office, VNA of Middlesex-East, 607 North Avenue, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880 or American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.