Longtime Sydney resident and businessman Sammy Mendleson passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Northwood Centre, Halifax.
Sammy was well known throughout Cape Breton and had many friends and acquaintances.
He was born on Fletcher Street in Glace Bay on Dec. 29, 1916 — son of his late parents Dora and Abraham Mendleson. The family along with his six siblings later moved to Whitney Pier, where he spent much of his early years.
As a youth and teenager Sammy always enjoyed and excelled in sports — particularly basketball and baseball. Throughout his life he always enjoyed singing and dancing — qualities he was proud of and that gained him many friends right up to the end of his life.
He launched his business career as a young boy by delivering the Cape Breton Post door to door and was always proud of the fact that he had the biggest newspaper route in Whitney Pier (144 papers delivered every day!). After graduating from Sydney Academy in 1936 he got a job at a grocery store located in Ashby but later moved on to open his own grocery business on the Esplanade.
He subsequently opened a new grocery store on Lower Charlotte Street and remained there for many years until he decided to move to Alexandra Street where he opened Sammy’s Lucky Dollar grocery store.
After retiring from the grocery business, he somewhat reluctantly decided to try his hand as a car salesman. Once again he put all his know-how, experience and determination to work and quickly became known to his many customers as “Smilin’ Sam — The Pontiac Man!” Not only was Sammy considered successful but earned the coveted Grand Sales Master Award from General Motors on a number of occasions over his 25-year career in the car business.
The plaque he received from General Motors carried the following inscription: “In recognition of exemplary initiative and achievement of the highest possible standards in automotive salesmanship.”
But Sammy’s life was much more than about business. He was very attached to the Cape Breton Jewish community and served in a number of capacities of his synagogue — The Temple Sons of Israel. In recognition and appreciation of his many years of service a special donation was made by the synagogue to Hadassah-Wizo on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
In addition, Sammy received a number of awards and certificates over the years from the Cape Breton Chapter of Hadassah-Wizo and in recognition of his “dedication and commitment to the Jewish Community” was later named as a “Male Life Associate” of this female organization.
In addition, to his work in the Jewish community, Sammy was also an active and longtime member of the Sydney Lions Club. He served two consecutive terms as president and in June 1959 was honoured as the recipient of the “Lion of the Year” award. Later in 1993 Sammy was inducted into the “Quarter Century Club” for his 25 years of service. The Lions Club once again honoured Sammy with an “Outstanding Service” certificate in recognition for all the volunteer work he had undertaken on their behalf.
But most of all, nearest and dearest to Sammy’s heart was his family. He was always concerned for the well-being not only of his parents, but also for the well being of his brothers and sisters and took an active interest in their many endeavours.
Sammy and his late wife Doris never had any children of their own, but both Sammy and Doris always displayed a close relationship with their many nieces and nephews showing pride for their accomplishments and concern for their challenges.
Sammy was predeceased by his parents, Dora (Fine) Mendleson and Abraham Mendleson; his wife, Doris (Selick) Mendleson; his brothers, Louis and Jake; his sisters, Bessie Fried (Mendleson), Sophie Cohen (Mendleson), twin sister Sarah Agulnik (Mendleson); nieces, Phyllis (Bill) Leith (Cohen), Faye Gaum and nephew, Frank Mendleson.
He is survived by his sister, Lena (Abe) Gaum (Mendleson), Ottawa; sister-in-law, Helen Selick, Saint John, N.B.; many nieces and nephews including nephews, Irwin (Joy) Mendleson, Halifax, Joel (Shelley) Cohen, Ottawa, Gerry (Sylvia) Mendleson, Halifax, Arnold (Elaine) Agulnik, Toronto, Alan Fried, New York, Avram (Rosalie) Selick, Newmarket, Ont., Barry (Ethelin) Agulnik, Ottawa, Leonard (Susan) Gaum, St. Louis, Mo.; nieces, Karen (Jack Shore) Agulnik, Toronto, and Harriet (David) Kornbluth (Mendleson), Mississauga; along with many grandnieces and grandnephews as well as several great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
The family would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to many of Sammy’s caregivers at Northwood Centre who always showed compassion, understanding and respect to Sammy . . . and we also wish to thank the many residents who have expressed their sadness at Sammy’s passing.
Funeral services will be held at Sydney Memorial Chapel, 49 Welton St., Sydney, N.S., on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at 3 p.m. and officiated by Rabbi David Ellis. Internment will follow immediately at the Hebrew Cemetery, Lingan Road, Whitney Pier.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sammy’s memory to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent c/o: 128 Williams Lake Rd., Halifax, N.S., B3P 1T3 or online to sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.

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