Samuel Adams Frederick

Samuel Adams Frederick passed away unexpectedly in October 2022 at his home on Cayuga Lake in Trumansburg, New York. Sam leaves behind his beloved family—children Charles, Julia, and Alyssa, their spouses and his three granddaughters—as well as his dear companion Carol Hickey and his "friends of the heart," as he called them. He was predeceased by his parents Mary Adams Frederick and Robert George Frederick and his younger brother Robert Jr., who died in childhood.

Sam was born on March 17, 1946 on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and Rye, New York. He received his B.A. from Yale, Class of '68, where he enjoyed studying history and singing tenor in the a capella group The Baker's Dozen. Sam served in the Vietnam War as a naval officer before earning his J.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. Sam married his wife of thirty years, Elizabeth Moore, in 1977 and together they raised their three children in Lexington, Massachusetts and Berwyn, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his career as a lawyer, Sam was an entrepreneur, teacher, mentor, writer, dedicated scholar of moral philosophy and, not least, Cajun dancer. Many people have fond memories of him singing – from doo-wop in his high school stairwell to Italian opera while cooking dinner. Perhaps most of all, Sam will be remembered for his dazzling mental energy–for his gregariousness, loquaciousness, his optimism, his ever-inquisitive mind, his sense of humor and his prodigious memory, as well as his inspiring capacity for appreciation of the moment, especially while engaged in deep conversation. He connected instantly with strangers, brightening countless people’s days with his jokes and insights, and he offered friendship that lifted up those in need of faith in themselves. Sam’s motto “Love and Reason” reflected his belief in the promise of human connection and intellectual endeavor. Late in life, he began greeting the dawn each day with a prayer of gratitude and enjoyed sharing photographs of each glorious daybreak with family and friends.

Per his wishes, Sam's ashes will be scattered at his boyhood "happy place," Silver Beach on Shelter Island in New York. A celebration of Sam's life will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the Brooktondale Community Center, 524 Valley Road, Brooktondale, New York.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bangs Funeral Home, Ithaca, NY. Online condolences may be made to Samuel’s family at www.bangsfuneralhome.com.

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