Samuel "Sam" Spevack

1922 - 2020

Samuel "Sam" Spevack

Rancho Mirage - Samuel "Sam" Spevack born July 9, 1922 in Boston, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2020 in his home in Rancho Mirage, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife and loving companion, Roslyn Gayler of Rancho Mirage; daughters Janice Sedloff (Michael) of La Jolla and Harriet Cameron (Stephen Simmonds) of Encino; grandchildren David Cameron (Brooklynn), Brandon Sedloff (Jenna), and Erin Sedloff (Ted Dayno); step children Stuart Gayler (Paula) and Michael Gayler (Marylynn); step grandchildren Dory Epstein (Brian), Alex Train (Jason) and Katie Diharce (Mason); great grandchildren Cayden, Dylan, Katalina, Makena, Maya and Zoe; and step great grandchildren Huntley, Rowan, and Sophie. He was proceeded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Bernice Spevack, in 1994.

Filled with gratitude and eternal optimism, he was driven by love of family and country. He proudly served in the US Army during WWII as a radio man in the Army Air Corp (Air Force) stationed in the Mariana and Hawaiian Islands. He was recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation, Pacific Ocean Areas Combat Ribbon, and a Bronze star.

Sam had a sharp wit, a wonderful sense of humor and a marvelous memory for telling hundreds of impeccably timed jokes to family and friends. He enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, singing songs and being in the company of his family, whom he deeply loved. On his ninety-fifth birthday, his children honored him with a plaque on the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla California. When called upon to speak, he was so articulate and sincere, there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd.

Sam was President and CEO of a mortgage firm, which at one time was the third largest brokerage in California. As a civic leader in Rancho Mirage (RM), he was President of the RM Rotary and an active member of the Children's Discovery Museum. He chaired the extraordinarily successful Duck Pluck fundraiser for the Children's Discovery Museum. He was a trustee of the Institute of Critical Care, campaign advisor to a city council-woman's re-election campaign, commissioner of RM Housing as well as board member of Concerned Citizens of RM. His devotion to community involvement resulted in national recognition from Senator Barbara Boxer, Congress Women Mary Bono, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Locally he received the Key to the City of RM from the Mayor, Service Citation from Rotary International, Man of the Year for Rancho Mirage Rotary and Riverside County Senior Inspiration Award.

Sam loved life, loved family, and loved his country. Sam's family cherished and loved him deeply. In Sam's words, "from a sixteen year-old, working on a milk truck (his first job to help support his mother) I lived to become the head of a large family. I see myself surrounded by more love than I could have ever dreamed."