Samuel Martin Altdoerffer

Family-Placed Obituary

SAMUEL MARTIN ALTDOERFFER Samuel Martin Altdoerffer, 84, of Lancaster, PA and Delray, FL died November 26, 2010 in Boynton Beach, FL. He was the son of Frank Henry and Barbara Eshelman Altdoerffer. He was the husband of Nancy Bomberger Altdoerffer with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage in June. Samuel graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1944. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during World War II in the Pacific Theater from 1944-1946. He was a communication staff specialist of LST Group 9 in the invasions of the Phillipines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the occupation of Japan. After returning from war, Sam attended and graduated from Franklin & Marshall University, B.S., Class of 1950. Sam was a leader in the radio communications field as he constructed and owned Peoples Broadcasting Company, licensee of WLAN AM & WLAN FM from 1946 until 1997. He was involved in the Conestoga Publishing Company, publishers of The Lancaster Advertisers and The Suburban Times in Lancaster from 1954-1956; built and operated Cable systems in Lancaster area from 1965 to 1968, then merged to form Cable Associates, 1968-1979. He purchased Radio stations WRUN & WKGW-FM, Utica, NY, March 1985. He served on the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Club; Director of Communications for Lancaster County Emergency Management Department and Lancaster Red Cross; Past President of the Lancaster Rotary Club, the PA Association of Broadcasters, the PA Associated Press Broadcasters Association and the former Chairman of the Board of Conestoga Savings and Loan. Other Boards he formally served on were: the PA Cable TV Association; the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce; Muscular Dystrophy; Rockford Foundation; Trustee of the YMCA; Elder First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster; Past President of Donegal Society; and The Blind Association. In Florida, Sam was President of the Delray Dunes Investment Club and served on the Board at the Delray Dunes Country Club. He was also a member of the Delray Beach Club. Sam was a member of the Lancaster Country Club and active in golf, tennis and was a member of the Court Jesters. He was a member of the Tucquan Club along the Susquehanna River and enjoyed fishing, sailing in the Carribean and boating on various lakes. Sam is survived by one daughter, Nancy and her husband Joseph Jones of Vero Beach, Florida and three sons; Samuel and his wife Urszula, Frank and his wife Ellen of Lancaster, PA and Jack and his wife Debra of Whitesboro, New York. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild; Joe Jones, Andrew Jones and his wife Jennifer; Samuel Altdoerffer and his son Sam, David Altdoerffer; Matthew Markowski, Martin Markowski; Lauren Altdoerffer, Drew Altdoerffer; Trip Altdoerffer; Allison Altdoerffer; and Cathryn Altdoerffer. A private family interment will take place in Lititz Moravian Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Delray Beach Rotary Fund, Attn: Samuel M. Altdoerffer Scholarship Fund, P.O, Box 8588, Delray Beach, FL 33482. Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, Delray Beach in charge of local arrangements To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries