Mr. Samuel Meredith Strong III

Samuel Meredith Strong III of Easton, Maryland, passed away on April 4 due to complications from dementia. He was 90 years old.

Sam was born March 2, 1935, in Bayside, New York, to Helen Pettit Strong and Samuel Meredith Strong, Jr. When he was eleven years old, his mother married Herbert (Lindy) Lindholm, who became his loving Dad.

Sam grew up in Bayside and graduated from Bayside High School in 1953. From there, he went on to RPI, then transferred to Colgate, where he graduated in 1957.

Sam met the love of his life, Elizabeth (Cookie) Riggs, while he was still at Colgate. They were married in February, 1957, and went back for Sam's graduation in June of that year. They soon started their family, a daughter, Elizabeth Anne and a son, Samuel Meredith IV.

Sam's first job was in sales at Reynolds Metals Company in Manhattan. He was soon promoted to the position of Southern New England Sales Manager, the youngest to have held that position. In 1968, Sam left Reynolds to start his own real estate firm in Old Lyme and Essex, Connecticut. The Strong Agency specialized in high-end properties in the Lower Connecticut River Valley. Sam served as President of the local MLS board and was a trustee of the Lyme Art Academy. He also served as Greens Chairman on the board of Black Hall Club and as a board member of Old Lyme Country Club.

Sam was an avid sailor all of his life and was a member of New York Yacht Club until his death. While living in Connecticut, he and Cookie and the kids traveled far and wide by boat - from Maine to the Florida Keys. In 1996, they built a home in Eleuthera, Bahamas, where they spent winters until 2009, when they bought a condo at Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach, Florida, where Sam served on the board of their community.

In 1997, Sam retired, and he and Cookie moved to Easton, Maryland, where they have lived ever since. Sam loved having the time to work on his boats, take care of the property, and of course spend time on the water. He also enjoyed playing golf until his later years. He served on the board of the Talbot Humane Society and was active in Tred Avon Yacht Club's junior sailing program, where his grandson Nick was enrolled for three years.

Sam is survived by his wife Cookie, his children, Elizabeth Strong Baker and her husband Larry, Sam IV, his grandchildren Nick Baker and wife Megan, Carrie Baker Neigel and her husband Scott, Allison Baker Kent and her husband Fraser, Isabella and Anthony Fiorenza, and by six great-grandchildren.

Sam was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved his family so very much, and his happiest times were spent with them. He will be sorely missed. He was a very special man.