Samuel Morris Rosen

Samuel Morris Rosen died peacefully May 13, 2016 in Ashland, Oregon at the age of 94. A celebration of his life will be at 1 p.m. June 18, at the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ashland, Oregon. Services will also be held August 14 at 11 a.m. at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills, California. Born October 19, 1921 in Lynn, Mass. to Max Rosen and Ida Leboff. Sam grew up in Minnesota and graduated from North High in Minneapolis. His family survived the Great Depression largely because of the WPA jobs through by Roosevelt's New Deal. Sam was an aspiring actor who wrote, edited, and performed in many plays and radio shows in Chicago, New York, and Utah. During WWII, he worked for Kaiser Shipyards near Long Beach. But he was working at a coffee shop in NY Bronx Veteran's hospital when librarian Blanche Seigel came by for coffee. They went to see the play "Death of a Salesman" on opening night. Sam was a good salesman. They married in 1950 in Los Angeles. Sam worked for the Culver City Police Dept., then for the Beverly Hills Post Office. He graduated UCLA in 1959 with a degree in education, and continued acting, with the Northridge Theater Guild, while working for the Veterans Administration. Sam earned a special education credential from Cal State Northridge, and in 1981 he earned his Master's in Special Education from Calif. Lutheran College. Sam had a great talent for teaching - especially for special needs students: a combination of skill, patience and compassion. He taught adolescents at Camarillo State Hospital for 18 years. As part of his teaching, Sam led a Boy Scout troop, and received the prestigious Silver Beaver Scouting award for his many years of service. Throughout his life, Sam kept busy with many interests – such as serving on the board of Goebels Senior Center in Thousand Oaks and also for the Calif. State Employees Assn. He was an active member of the Conejo Valley Democratic Club and Rotary Club, and attended the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Temple Etz Chaim. Blanche and Sam enjoyed family camping trips, and later they traveled to Western and Eastern Europe, Canada, Scandinavia, Israel, and throughout the U.S. After Blanche died in 2011, Sam moved to Ashland to be near family, at the age of 93. He was a loving grandparent and great-grandparent who enjoyed every minute of life. Wherever Sam went he made many loving friends. "Everyone loves Sam" was the refrain that followed him everywhere. He was someone who cared for and spoke out and wrote letters on behalf of those in need. His letters were often published in the Acorn and Los Angeles Times, and for a time he was editor of the CSEA (California State Employees Association) newsletter. Sam remained politically active - supporting candidates for office at all levels. In fact - until just a few months ago - at the age of 94 - in his wheel chair - he was out on the streets - proudly holding his Bernie Sanders sign, and passing out voter registration forms. Sam will be remembered fondly by members of the Democratic Clubs of the Conejo Valley and Jackson County, Goebels Center Shakespeare Club, Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Goebels Ukulele Club, the Bereavement Group, the Miller Family YMCA, Trader Joe’s in Newbury Park, the wonderful neighbors in who met him on his daily walks for years, and by his friends at the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Temple Emek Shalom, Ashland Library, OLLI classes at So. Oregon Univ., Brookdale Retirement Community and Linda Vista Rehab Center. Sam was preceded in death by his younger sister, Bess Weisman, Of Blessed Memory; and his beloved wife, Blanche, Of Blessed Memory. He is survived by his daughters Jacqueline Rosen (James Meckel) and Lynn Maxine Rosen (Tad Calcara), his grandchildren Sean Aaron Meckel (Jennifer Meckel), and Eric Rosen Meckel (Samara Meckel); his grandchildren, Sabrina Rosen Calcara, Benny Rosen Calcara, and Jasmine Carmina Calcara; his great-granddaughter, Emilia Rose Meckel; and his nephews, Gary Grossman, Irv Weisman and Michael Weisman. Donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, or to a charity of your choice. National Parkinson Foundation 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800 Miami, Florida 33131 May his memory be for a blessing.