CUMMINGS, Sampson ‘Sam’
Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, June 30th, 2016, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Born April 27th, 1933, in New Waterford, Nova Scotia, and raised by his maternal grandparents, Sampson and Sarah Harper, Sam was the eldest son of the late Eli and Helen (Harper) Cummings. A kind and gentle man, Sam was a loving husband, father and grandfather. With a ready smile and easy laugh, it seemed that Sam was everyone’s friend, loved and respected in equal measure by all who had the good fortune to know him. Sam went to school in New Waterford and, as a young man, worked in a local meat shop that made and sold sausages – one of his favourite jobs, as he would recall with a smile later in life. Eventually moving to Halifax, Sam worked first at Moirs chocolate factory as a floor manager and then for Household Finance. It was in Halifax, in 1956, that he met the young woman who would become his wife of 51 years, Dorothy ‘Dot’ Brushett. They were married on October 26th, 1957. Sam and Dorothy later moved to Corner Brook, Newfoundland, where Sam continued to work for Household Finance and Dorothy at the local unemployment office. In 1960, Sam accepted a job at the Nova Scotia School for Boys in Shelburne, where he worked for several years. Subsequently, in 1969, with a young and growing family, Sam pursued formal social work education in Halifax, and earned his ‘Social Welfare Worker’ diploma and ring. Moving to Yarmouth, in 1970, he began work at the Department of Social Services (later Community Services). Sam enjoyed a long and successful career, distinguishing himself as a dedicated, principled and tireless social service worker in a variety of front-line and management roles. He was, nevertheless, happy to retire in 1991. Although an intelligent man, Sam found quiet satisfaction in life’s simple joys – his family and home, walking and square dancing with his beloved Dorothy, his vegetable and flower gardens, his woodworking, his reading, and his collections of stamps, coins and pins. He was a member of many community and charitable organizations, including the Freemasons (Hiram Lodge #12). In his later years, Sam came to especially value the predictable, comforting patterns of life in Yarmouth. He looked forward to attending any and every community event, happy to laugh and smile with all he met. Above all, he cherished his children and grandchildren, towards whom he was endlessly supportive and boundlessly loving. Of few men may it be said more truly that his was a kind, gentle spirit. Sam is survived by his children Shawn, Heather (Hubert), Kevin and Wayne (Terri); by grandchildren Dustin, Stephanie, Wayne Jr., Emma, William and Violet; by brothers Tom and David; and by sisters Lillian, Ollie and Sheila. Sam was predeceased by his parents and, in January 2009, by his wife Dorothy. He was also predeceased by brothers Butch and Jackie, and by grandchild in infancy Adrienne. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Yarmouth. Visitation took place Sunday, July 3rd, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Online condolences may be directed to Sweeny’s Funeral Home at sweenysfh@eastlink.ca and/or the guest book signed at www.sweenysfuneralhome.net. A funeral mass was held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Yarmouth, at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, July 4th. Donations in memory may be made to Holy Trinity Anglican Church or charity of choice. “Loved always and will remain in our hearts forever.”