Obituary of Dimitrois Jerry Samuels

January 14, 1937 - Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

November 9, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Jerry Samuels, beloved husband of Sylvia Samuels (nee Lundall), father of Shereen, Vaughn and Ian Samuels; father-in-law of Liz, and grandfather of Ulrica Schweizer Samuels, all of Calgary, passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at the age of 86 years.

Jerry was born in South Africa in 1937, one of ten siblings. Jerry married Sylvia Mary Margaret Lundall in 1963. He and Sylvia relocated to Zambia on a teaching contract in 1965, and subsequently immigrated to Canada in 1969.

Jerry trained as a teacher in South Africa. After immigrating to Canada, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Brandon University in Manitoba. The family lived for twelve years in Rossburn, Manitoba. In 1981 he relocated the family to Calgary, Alberta, when he got a teaching job in the Foothills School District. Although he specialized in History and Economics during his teacher training, he spent almost his entire teaching career working in the field of special education, supporting struggling junior and senior high school students in building literacy and numeracy skills, as well as running trades and career development programs.

His passion for supporting children’s literacy began as a young man, when he discovered a young nephew in grade school couldn’t read, and he devised a plan to teach the boy to read. He duplicated this success with his own children, teaching all of them to read by the age of three. He was passionate about reading, believing it was a passport to opportunity. In addition to his career as a teacher, Jerry was also passionate about financial literacy. As a first-generation immigrant, starting afresh in a country far from his home, Jerry was particularly proud of his skill in providing for his family.

He inspired those around him with his constant enthusiasm for life, and passion for his own learning - Jerry believed that you could learn absolutely anything, if you found the right book. His hobbies were wide-ranging - he taught himself woodworking in order to frame the basement of the family’s first house. He taught himself to play golf, as well as flamenco and classical guitar. When personal computers became available in the 1980s, he taught himself coding, and computers and technology remained an interest throughout his life. When he retired, he joined Westwinds Music, which provides opportunities for adults to learn an instrument. He became part of a band learning to play the saxophone. He showed great interest and a deep understanding of politics, particularly North American politics. As a survivor of South African apartheid, Jerry found Barack Obama’s presidency to be a moment of profound importance.

Jerry was fond of describing himself as a ‘citizen of the world’. After he retired at age 53, Jerry and Sylvia indulged their lifelong desire for globe-trotting, traveling to dozens of countries, on every continent except Antarctica, missing only Russia and Iceland.

Jerry was the last surviving member of a ten-sibling family. He was predeceased by his father Jerome Samuels and mother Eva Samuels nee Bernon; sisters Theresa Edouard (Cecil), Olga Dalais (Wilfrid), and Veronica Augustine (Bernard); and brothers Antonio “Tony” (Clemence), Alfonso “Paddy” (Yvonne), Manuel (Nura), Leonce “Lay” (Maureen), Noel “Jube” (Joan), and Francisco “Lovey” (Margaret).

Besides his loving wife Sylvia, Jerry is survived by his daughter Shereen and her wife Liz Schweizer; two sons, Vaughn, and Ian; and one granddaughter, Rica Schweizer Samuels, all of Calgary, Alberta. He is also survived by brothers- and sisters-in-law Clemence, Joan, Bernard and Margaret, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins in the extended Samuels/Bernon family.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Jerry’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Jerry’s family here.

In living memory of Jerry Samuels, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, and in memory of their heroic attempts to save Jerry’s life, memorial tributes may be made directly to Calgary Health Foundation – Rockyview Hospital ICU, Suite 800, 11012 Macleod Trail S.E., Calgary, AB  T2J 6A5, Telephone: (403)943-0615, www.thetrust.ca.