Samuel Richard Alderman

1934 - 2018

Samuel Richard Alderman

New Smyrna Beach - November 6, 1934- April 22, 2018. Our funny and fun-loving Sam entered into Heaven on April 22, 2018.

Born in Avon Park, Florida to David and Nelda Alderman, Sam spent his childhood moving around Florida as the son of a Baptist preacher. From Avon Park, he moved to New Port Richey, then to Okeechobee, next to Mayo where he cropped tobacco to earn money, and finally to Tallahassee where he graduated from Leon High School in 1952.

He then earned a Bachelors degree from Florida State University, where he majored in Elementary Education. Upon graduation, he taught one year in rural Georgia and served as a school bus driver while he earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from FSU. At the end of that year, he married his first wife, Carolyn Redfern. Two years later, his daughter Nan Alderman Gray was born, and four years after that came son Des Clinton Alderman. Sam taught at Wesson Elementary and then served as an Assistant principal at newly opened Rickards High School and soon became the Principal at Lillian Ruediger Elementary School where he remained until his retirement after 33 years. During his tenure at Ruediger, Sam was the first elementary principal to successfully integrate his school, and children and teachers loved his level-headedness in that tense time.

Known for his sense of humor, his eclectic group of friends, his infectious laugh, and his stream of consciousness story telling, Sam will always be remembered as a generous, kind-hearted man with a soft spot for those in need. Sam was a Charter member of the Tallahassee Lions Club, ate breakfast for many years at Manny's Restaurant just to keep up with the local news, and chauffeured his grandchildren from school to activities while entertaining them with stories of flea circuses and the secrets of Tallahassee society. Most recently Sam has lived in New Smyrna Beach where he was a member of Coronado Community United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his brother Russell Alderman of Jacksonville, Florida. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, June Norman Alderman, his children Nan (Randy) of Tallahassee and Des of Monticello, his stepchildren Carla Masters Cottrell (Peter) and Nancy Masters Nelson (Bill), granddaughters Katy Riggio (Mike), Molly Nelson, Meghan Nolan, Ava Nelson, Carolyn Gray, and grandson Jesse Nelson. He also leaves behind two great grandchildren, Maddy and Austin Riggio.

Service date will be announced at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Clean Water for Cuba fund at Coronado Community United Methodist Church, 201 S. Peninsula Drive, New Smyrna Beach, Fl 32169.

Condolences may be made online at www.settlewilderfuneralhome.com.