J. Samuel Sam Slicer Jr.

Sam was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, the son of the late Joseph S. and Sarabelle Slicer. He lived in Charlotte, NC, Birmingham, AL and Needham, MA prior to retiring to Chatham and in 1999 moving to S. Yarmouth, MA. He is predeceased by his wife of 68 years Margaret “Peg” Slicer. He is survived by his dearly beloved Phyllis Cook and his son, J. Sargent “Sarge” Slicer, and his children, Eric Sargent, Mark Robert and Adam Kingsbury and their children, Emily, Maxwell, Campbell, Colin, Kyle and Adam, Jr.

Sam attended public school in Atlanta GA and obtained a BS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia School of Technology (Georgia Tech) in 1939. Between high school and college he served 2 years in the Headquarters Troop of the 6th Cavalry (at that time horse cavalry). After college, he started his career in fire protection engineering with the Engineering Department of the Factory Mutual Insurance Companies (now FM Global). He advanced from Field Engineer to Residential Engineer to Chief Hydraulics Engineer to Chief Protection Engineer and helped develop many of the protection standards FM Global uses today. He became one of FM Global’s top large loss fire investigators and was an expert witness in several trials. He retired in 1977.

After moving to Needham, MA in 1948, he was elected to town meeting member for several years and was Chairman of the Building Committee for the Broadmeadow Elementary School. Sam was an amateur radio operator (W1SCZ) and part of the Needham Civil Defense Unit. He was active in Boy Scouts as a Scout Master and District Commissioner in the Boston Council. He received their Silver Beaver Award.

Sam was a registered Fire Protection Engineer and his professional memberships included the New England and American Water Works Association, National Association of Fire Investigators and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA-Life Member). He also served on several technology committees of the NFPA and received their Committee Service Award. The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) elected him as Fellow in 1983 and he was active in the New England Chapter of this society.

Sam continued consulting as a fire protection engineer for several years after his to retirement to Chatham. He built the foundation and did all the wiring in their retirement home which took over 20 years to complete with his wife and son on weekends and vacations. He had the dubious honor of having the longest running building permit in the town’s history. He was also very active and a life member of both the Chatham Conservation Foundation and the Cape Cod Genealogical Society and a deacon at Saint Christopher‘s Church for several years. Genealogy and family history were his hobby for over 40 years.

Sam and Peg moved to Thirwood Place in 1999 where he became the Thirwood “Weather Man” for many years and helped published their newsletter.

Sam was a “Southern Gentleman” in all respects and everyone loved his kind and affable manner. He will be missed by all how had the fortune to know him. He will also miss his 3 fingers of Gentleman Jack or Tanqueray Gin over 3 ice cubes daily at 4:00pm before going to dinner which he claims contributed to his longevity.

The family would like to express its gratitude to all the staff at Mayflower Place and the VNA Hospice for their compassion and kindness trying to help him reach his 100th birthday.

His memorial service will be held on Monday, November 23, 2015 at 1:30 pm at Thirwood Place, S. Yarmouth, MA .

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to the Chatham Conservation Foundation, 104 Crowell Road, Chatham, MA 02633. or to the A.L. Brown Scholarship Fund in care of the New England Chapter, Society of Fire Protection Engineers at www.spfe-newengland.org/page-311706.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.