Daniel M. Samel

Dan Samel, 83, of Hampstead, North Carolina, passed away peacefully in his sleep early on the morning of June 21, 2012, at the Davis Health Care Center in Porter's Neck, North Carolina, following a battle with cancer. Dan was born in Dover, New Jersey, the son of David and Florence Samel. David was a jeweller in Dover, and later Trenton and Pennington, New Jersey, and Florence was a school teacher in Morris County, New Jersey. Dan graduated from Roxbury High School in Succasunna, New Jersey, and later earned a B.S. in Accounting from Seton Hall University. He served overseas as a member of the United States Army during the Korean War, and later spent most of his professional career working as a civilian computer systems analyst for the Department of the Army at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, and Letterkenny Army Depot, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Dan, and his wife Estelle, who is a retired elementary school teacher, were married in 1955, and raised two sons, Matthew and Charles. The family lived for many years in Succasunna, New Jersey, where Dan and Estelle were early and active members of Temple Shalom. They later moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, and in 1993, Dan and Estelle retired to Hampstead, North Carolina, in the golf community of Belvedere Plantation. Dan obtained his North Carolina Real Estate license and worked for many years in Pender County as a real estate agent. He was an avid golfer, boater, and British sports car collector and enthusiast. Dan was active in the American Legion posts while living in Hagerstown and Hampstead, and Dan and Estelle were members of the British Motor Club of the Cape Fear, the Harbour Village Yacht Club, and Temple of Israel in Wilmington, North Carolina. Dan is survived by his wife of 57 years, Estelle, of Hampstead, North Carolina; his brother Franklin Samel of Orlando, Florida; his son Matthew J. Samel of Providence, Rhode Island; his son Charles H. Samel, of Marina del Rey, California; his grandson Ben, and granddaughter Jamie. A memorial service will take place on Sunday, June 24, at 2:00 p.m., at the Temple of Israel, 1 South Fourth Street, in Wilmington, North Carolina. At Dan's request, there will not be an internment.