SAMUEL LAMBERT

LAMBERT--Samuel W. III. Samuel Waldron Lambert III, died on January 16, 2026, peacefully at home with his family at his side. He was born in New York City on January 12, 1938, to Dr. Samuel W. and Mary H. Lambert of New York City and Lawrenceville, NJ. He was a descendant of a long line of doctors in New York City, including a Dean of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, a President of the American Medical Association, a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, and a one-eyed surgeon. He was also descended from Rev. Jonathan Dickenson, the first President of what is now Princeton University, the Rev. Samuel M. Hamill, the Headmaster of The Lawrenceville School for 50 years, Mr. Thomas Willets, the first Mayor of New York City under the British, and Captain John Underhill, leader of the Colonial Forces. Sam graduated from The Buckley School, Groton School, Yale University, and Harvard Law School. At Groton and Yale, Sam was a dedicated oarsman. At Yale, he stroked the 1957 undefeated heavyweight freshman crew and the 1958 undefeated four shell. After serving in the US Army Reserves, Sam joined the late Albridge C. Smith III in the practice of law in Princeton, NJ, forming a partnership in 1967, which later became Smith, Lambert, Cook & Miller. Sam was the managing partner of the firm, which he merged with Drinker, Biddle & Reath of Philadelphia. At the Princeton office, Sam was elected the firm's first non-Philadelphia based managing partner. Sam specialized in trusts and estates, private foundations, and other non-profit corporations. He retired in 2003. Sam served his local community and beyond for many years as a board member of various non-profit organizations including: The Princeton Day School, Planned Parenthood of New Jersey, The Open Space Institute, The New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Bunbury Foundation, The Winslow Foundation, and The Curtis McGraw Foundation. Sam enjoyed spending time with his extended family, including his loving wife, Casey Lambert, his children: Kelly L. Walker, Samuel W. Lambert, Sarah H. Lambert, his stepchildren: Hilary R. Hegener, Peter C. Hegener, all of their spouses, and 15 grandchildren, with whom he shared his love of fly fishing, nature, conservation, animals (especially his beloved cat Posey), tennis, traveling the world, eating good food, humor, the Giants football team, and socializing with friends. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Church in Princeton, NJ, on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 11:00am, with a reception to follow at Springdale Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sam's memory may be made to: The Yale Crew Association and Planned Parenthood of Mercer County, NJ. Services are being handled under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ.