Ledyard - Samuel W. Holdridge, 86, of Ledyard, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

He was born on Aug. 10, 1931, in Quincy, Mass., son of the late S. Archie and Sally (Fuller) Holdridge. Sam was married to his dear wife Diane on Feb. 12, 1987; she survives.

He was raised in Madison, where he graduated from Daniel Hand H.S. in 1950 and lettered in four sports. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He attended Wentworth Institute and was employed at Electric Boat for 35 years.

Sam enjoyed being a part of various local theatre groups, Two Town Four barbershop quartet, EB/Groton volleyball league, canoe club, camping with his kids in Maine, gourmet group, growing trees at his Uncle Sam's Christmas Tree Farm, UConn Club and his beloved Husky basketball teams. He especially loved the years he spent with his wife, Diane, at their home on Block Island.

He is survived by his sister, Ridgie Barnett of West Hampton Beach, N.Y.; and brother, Dale and his wife, Patty Holdridge, of Madison; his son, Don and his wife, Sandy Holdridge, of Elizabethton, Tenn.; his daughters, Jean and her husband, Peter Becker, of White Mills, Pa., Peggy Tencza of Albuquerque, N.M., Linda and her husband, Ken Fast, of Stonington; his stepdaughter, Amy Fraher and Kathy Jones of Fairfield, Calif.; his stepson, Tim and his wife, Alyce Fraher, of San Diego Calif.; stepdaughter-in-law, Marcia Fraher of Acton, Mass.; his grandchildren, Sean, Nicholas (Kelsey), Melissa, Donny, Laura, Carly, Eric (Brianna), and Julie; his stepgrandchildren, Susannah (Kevin), Rebeccah (Bob), Simon, Tim II; four great-stepgrandchildren; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

He was predeceased by his stepson, Peter Fraher; and his brother-in-law, Charles Barnett.

A memorial celebrating Sam's life will be held at a future date.

Please visit www.byles.com to share a memory with the family.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Day on Feb. 18, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Samuel Holdridge

Sponsored by Byles Memorial Home - New London.

3 Entries

Walter & Gail Sheldon Jr.

February 20, 2018

Dear Diane and the Holdridge Family,
Please accept our sincerest condolences on the passing of Sam. My best friend at Electric Boat in department 502. We shared many good times and our work relationship was extraordinary. I particularly liked Sam's wit and laughter, always upbeat and fun to be around, and always a good joke or two or three.
I have been by his house many times, usually late at night, coming from you know where, and he always entered my mind. Just recently this year noticed that the tree farm sign was not displayed around Christmas time. Maybe he had called it quits.
Well my friend! May you Rest In Peace with the Lord! I will miss you.

Bonnie P-Johnson

February 20, 2018

Thoughts and prayers to Diane and the family. He was a wonderful person and I'm blessed to have met him and learned some of his life story.

Alyce & Timmy Fraher

February 16, 2018

Grandpa Sam's passing has been so unexpected and sudden. Timmy and I have remained here in San Diego while Tim left to be by Diane's side. Our hearts are heavy. From the very first day I met my future father-in-law at the Block Island home, I found him to be a most genuinely caring person, a genuinely kind and sweet man. As Timmy and I have been talking what is foremost in our minds are our best memories of Grandpa. Him driving Timmy and Simon around in the bucket of the tractor on the tree farm, piling leaves into an enormous heap so they could dive in, preparing a snow run for them to spend hours going down (the big boys Pete and Tim too). The boys always loved going to the tree farm, the maple syrup, the Winnie the Poo tree. It was a treat that they would dream about days before in excited anticipation of what adventure Grandpa Sam would have for them. One of Timmy's best memories is from one of our visits to Block Island, and Grampa Sam took him digging for clams, they shucked them together, stuck them in the freezer for what seemed an eternity for Timmy, and then finally slurped them up! Timmy says those were the best clams that he ever had in his life. That genuine caring that Sam extended to me on the first day we met was always present for my family and me. During difficult times, I found him to be very wise, understanding the complexities of relationships in his advice. Most importantly, he understood unconditional love. I know that those who know him saw that in his relationships as well. I will forever hold in my heart the warmth of his open acceptance of my family, his expression of affection and care for the boys and their happiness. Our hearts are heavy, but the gentleness that he taught by example will live in those whose lives he touched so sweetly. Rest in peace Grandpa Sam, you will be in our hearts always.

Timmy and Alyce

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