Lee Sampson

10/22/1938 – 2/9/2012

Leonard Hull Sampson, II, passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at the age of 73, after leading a full and extraordinary life. Leonard, or Lee as most knew him, was a devoted husband to Valerie, loving father to Lisa and Leonard, and proud grandfather of Olivia, Leah and Brandon. Lee was beloved by his parents-in-law, Andy and Aldah Meyers, and his aunt-in-law, Peggy Willey. Lee was a natural leader – whether heading his family, a Boy Scout troop or the USC Pressbox – who gave himself completely and unselfishly to so many of us who had the blessed fortune of knowing him. He had strong opinions and steadfast resolve, but was wise enough to listen to others, believe in them, and support them completely. Lee loved his family and friends very deeply and had a soft heart and gentle side, which give him a balance so many benefited from. We know, without a doubt, that he will continue to be with us in spirit and in our hearts, and will be waiting, perhaps a bit impatiently, for us to one day join him with God in heaven.

Lee’s Childhood:

Lee’s journey on earth began on October 22, 1938, in Watsonville, CA. He was born to Leonard Hull Sampson and Grace Fabry Sampson. During his boyhood years, Lee lived in various small towns in and around the beautiful Monterey Bay area. Always an outdoors enthusiast, and true nature-lover, this environment provided Lee with plenty of adventures and great stories he would share with his family throughout the years. One of his early homes was on a ranch, where the ever-fearless Lee was bucked from a horse he was training, unbeknownst to his parents, landing hard and breaking both his arms. For the next 6 weeks, Lee had to do all his schoolwork orally – which most of us know was right up his alley.

During WWII, Lee was sent to a boy’s camp near Lake Tahoe for safety purposes. His parents were strong individuals, who loved him deeply, so this had to be a painful decision for them at the time. True to form, Lee accepted the situation with realistic vision, and made it through. This coupled with his other boyhood adventures helped to forge toughness in Lee that would give him amazing resiliency he would call upon time-and-time again throughout his life.

Toughness was coupled with ingenuity during Lee’s teenage years—spending most of those years heavily involved in the Boy Scouts. Lee achieved the level of Life Scout, just short of earning his Eagle rank. More importantly, however, he served as a BSA camp leader and counselor to younger boys, helping them grow into young men and excel in their achievements. Always a strong swimmer, Lee also served for several years as lifeguard. Lee was unselfish, protective and guided others early on. It was also during these years that Lee discovered his love of fishing. Over the next 50 years he would develop his skills as a trout fisherman – finding a place to drop his line, wherever, whenever possible.

Lee graduated from Watsonville High School in 1957. It was in high school where Lee proved to be a natural athlete, albeit a skinny one – weighing just 118 lbs. as a senior. He always had a love of football, but excelled in, and lettered in, track and swimming. Multi-talented, he was also a yell leader and played the tuba in the Watsonville High band. Lee was also known at his high school as being very social, and having many friends – most important of whom was Loren Iverson, who remained Lee’s best friend his entire life.

Lee’s Young Adult Life:

Lee always believed in education, but due to the times, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy in 1957, immediately after high school. He proudly served his country as a Seaman on a Destroyer, spending much of his time stationed in the Philippines. After being honorably discharged, Lee began a new career in Sales at J.J. Newberry’s stores. It was through this early career move, Lee found his way to Los Angeles, transferring to a Newberry’s there in 1960.

That fateful move to L.A. paved Lee’s path to his life’s love and companion, Valerie Jean Meyers. Fearless Lee crashed a church party at Valerie’s family’s house in 1961, after “accepting” a phone invitation on behalf of his then roommate. Lee showed up at Valerie’s door, and luckily for all of us didn’t have it slammed in his face. Instead, Valerie invited him in, and their lifelong love began that night. Lee was brave, and not afraid to take a chance. He knew Valerie was right for him, and would be the best wife and life companion he could ever ask for – he knew it that night.

Lee’s Family Life:

Lee and Valerie wed on June 15, 1963, in Los Angeles, and enjoyed nearly 49 years laughing, crying and living life to its fullest together. Two babies came into their lives during their first decade together. Their first child, Leonard Hull Sampson, III, – named after Lee and his father – was born on April 12, 1968. Their second child, Lisa Diane Sampson – also named after Lee – was born on October 3, 1972. With a son and a daughter, Lee and Valerie had the family they’d always wanted. During his children’s childhood, Lee participated with unrelenting energy in everything they did – whether with school, sports, church, or family things – Lee provided love, support, guidance, insights and leadership for his children, sharing his life experience with them, helping them to develop into strong adults with families of their own. For the past 43 years, Lee took great pride in all of his children’s accomplishments, from their first steps, to their college graduations, to them giving him 3 grandchildren.

Believing heavily in education, Lee went back to school after he and Valerie had begun having children, attending L.A. Pierce College first, then transferring to San Fernando Valley College – which later became known as California State University, Northridge (or CSUN). Lee spent many late nights holding a book in one hand, and a baby in the other.

While his children were growing up, Lee found an outlet for his leadership traits and his sense of adventure through serving as a coach and as a Scoutmaster. Lee was a leader with his son’s YMCA Indian Guides tribe, a Flag Football Coach for 3 of his teams, and was a Scoutmaster for his son’s BSA Troop 315 for several years. Lee practiced with and coached both of his children in all of their endeavors, always willing to throw the ball in the rain, or debate on right or wrong until everyone had their say.

Another passion Lee carried throughout his life was for model railroading; a passion he shared with his son, and his grandson, spending years-worth of time building elegant train tables, full of skillfully-built models and mountains, and covered with train engines and cars from dozens of eras. Lee was able to share his love of model railroading in recent years with his entire family, by building special Christmas train tables around the family tree, where everyone could enjoy their beauty for hours.

Most that knew Lee well, know he was a determined do-it-yourselfer. More than just a “weekend warrior,” Lee was an exceptionally-skilled craftsman who loved designing and planting gardens, building fences and atriums, designing the perfect sprinkler layout, painting, wallpapering and crafting woodwork for his family.

Lee’s Professional Life:

Though he ventured into banking and loan management early on, Lee leveraged his gifts as a friendly, warm and engaging person to excel at Sales throughout most of his adult career. Working at various companies, selling everything from Smurfs, to Electric Vehicles, to Extermination Service, Lee drove relentlessly to exceed his goals and provide a good living for his family. Lee was many times named “Salesman of the Year,” for smashing quotas, and leading high-achieving teams. His most memorable sales jobs where with Wallace Berry Co. and Nordskog Electric Vehicles, where his efforts helped develop those firms’ sales organizations and products into winners.

Sales, however, was Lee’s “day job,” and made-up only half of his career and professional life. The other half belonged to USC athletics, where Lee proudly served as the USC Football Pressbox Supervisor at the L.A. Coliseum for 35 years – a position he earned after having served the prior 10 years as a Section Chief in the grandstands. Through his position with USC Football, Lee worked at more than 40 Rose Bowl games, serving as Press Box Supervisor for more than 30 of those annual games – which included several National Championship matches. Lee also served as Press Supervisor at USC Basketball games for more than 3 decades – for both the men’s and women’s teams. At various times throughout his USC athletics career, Lee also worked at Baseball Games, Track Meets, Volleyball Games, and dozens of NCAA playoff and championship events hosted by USC. Through his USC connection, Lee also had the great privilege of working at 5 Super Bowls, the 1984 L.A. Olympics, 6 seasons for the L.A. Avengers Arena Football team, and at the 1994 World Cup championship. After his love for his family and friends, Lee loved USC sports deeply for every second of the 45 years he spent associated with the institution.

While continuing with USC through this past football season, Lee did retire from his sales career 12 years ago, to start on a post-retirement path as a School Bus Driver, working first for Laidlaw, then for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Lee specialized in transporting physically and mentally challenged children daily to-and-from school, taking care of them as he would his own children. The 10 years Lee spent doing this, was a true testament to the loving, giving, patient and protective man he was. Lee finally retired completely from work a few years ago, to spend more time with Valerie, and his children and grandchildren.

Lee’s Legacy:

Lee was a strong, protective, nurturing, loving and intelligent son, husband, father, grandfather and friend. Lee was a caregiver, a fixer, a problem-solver. He taught us countless things about life, about being our best, and about helping others become the best they can be. Lee would give you his last dime, if he knew you would use it to make your life better. He would stay up with you all night, if it would help you be more prepared for an important challenge. For so many people, Lee has made such an everlasting mark on their lives, that he will never be forgotten. He was a faithful man, believing deeply that God gave him a purpose on earth, in this life – and Lee served him well, sharing himself every single day.

Lee was a classic, and like all classics he will have a special “cardinal and gold” place in the hearts of generations to come. He is loved, and he will be missed…