Michael David Samara
Michael David Samara, South Burlington, VT, a beloved and respected Saint Michael’s College student life leader and later campus minister and academic support specialist over four decades, died unexpectedly from a heart attack at his home on April 26.
A New Hampshire native from a close-knit Lebanese and Syrian-American family, Mike moved to Vermont in 1977 not long after graduate school and a brief early student life position, to serve as Director of Student Life at Saint Michael’s. Soon he was promoted to the role of Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs and served for 35 years before retiring in 2012.
He touched the lives of a broad range of people: students, faculty, administrators and the dining-hall staff. He was beloved for his thoughtful, caring demeanor, advocacy, equity, and inclusion. He formed lasting relationships, including with students, many of whom stayed in touch with him for decades after graduating. The College’s Office of Residential Life created an award, presented annually in his honor.
Following his first retirement, Michael enrolled in the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at the UVM Medical Center. Michael went on to serve as a per diem chaplain at the Medical Center and on the Professional Advisory Group for the CPE Program.
Michael returned to Saint Michael’s in a part-time position from 2013 to 2018, serving on the Campus Ministry Staff and in Academic Support.
In a message to the community about Mike’s death, Fr. Brian Cummings, S.S.E., ’86, director of Edmundite Campus Ministry, wrote: “In the week before he died, Mike was on campus having lunch in our student dining room greeting colleagues and enjoying a visit to campus. Mike served our community well and many of us are grateful for his time spent at the College where he established many friendships among us.”
On his second retirement from the College in 2018, Michael wrote, “I must end with a special thank you and acknowledgement to the Society of Saint Edmund. The Edmundites took a chance on a young man in 1977. I have always felt their hospitality, support, love and faithful care. I am most grateful.”
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Michael was born on March 5,1948 to Josephine and Frederick Samara of Manchester, New Hampshire. He grew up with his Arabic-speaking grandparents living in the apartment downstairs. Throughout his life, he took significant pride in his heritage. In 1970, he earned his degree at the University of New Hampshire and went on to earn his Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel also at UNH two years later. It was during this time at UNH that he met his best friend and partner Lucy. They married in 1975 at the Community Church of Durham, UCC.
Michael served as co-director of residential life and director of counseling at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana until moving to Vermont
Michael’s greatest love was his family. He adored his two children and their spouses, and also dearly loved spending time with his five granddaughters, who experienced their “Jiddo” as full of poems, stories, games, laughter and silly songs. Michael had passion for writing, Boston sports, playing guitar, and vacationing on Wells Beach. He loved watching his children and grandchildren in all their interests and activities. Michael also took significant meaning from his faith and was an active member of the First Congregational Church UCC of Burlington for nearly 40 years, serving the church community in many roles.
According to his family and close friends, Mike’s beloved wife Lucy was with him when he died alongside extraordinary South Burlington emergency responders… “and he was aware of what was happening, and able to say his goodbye to her,” as his First Congregational Minister Rev. Elissa Johnk wrote in her message to that congregation about Mike’s death.
Along with his wife of nearly 50 years, Lucy M’84, P’08, Mike is survived by a son, Andrew “Andy” Samara ’08, a daughter (Julie Samara Thompson), a brother and extended family.