Samuel Hugh Hollowell passed away on April 15, 2020 after an extended battle with cancer. Sam was born in Gastonia, NC on January 31, 1945 to the late Evelyn Fitch and Linwood Branton Hollowell. He graduated in 1963 from Frank L. Ashley High School where he excelled in athletics. He played football, basketball and baseball, but his love was basketball. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a basketball scholarship before proudly enlisting in the United States Navy. During his Navy service, he was stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While visiting his sister in Fort Lauderdale in 1966, he met the love of his life, Barbara, on a blind date. Barbara and Sam were married in 1969.
Sam was an extremely successful Real Estate Broker, known for his integrity and his willingness to mentor his fellow realtors. He began his real estate career in 1972 at Miller, Cowherd, and Kerver where he was consistently a top producer. Eventually he became a broker, then General Manager and Vice President. While he was active in real estate, he served on several Board of Realtors Committees, including the Professional Standards Committee and the Audit and Finance Committee.
A caring and giving individual, community involvement was very important to Sam. He gave his time proudly and tirelessly. He served on the Parks, Recreation and Beaches Board for 9 years, including a term as Chair in 1980. He also coached Little League baseball, several Little League baseball all-star teams, chaired the American Red Cross Ball, and served on and chaired the Fort Lauderdale Debutante Presentation Committee. A long-time member of the Lauderdale Yacht Club, Sam served on the swimming and sailing committees at LYC.
Sam was a dedicated and active member of First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale. Throughout his over 50 year membership, Sam served on and chaired innumerable church committees that impacted the church, its organization, and its future. He was dedicated to the youth program and taught Middle School and High School Sunday School, as well as serving as a Kirk Singer choir parent and chaperone for over 10 years. He also volunteered in the sound and light booth for the Chapel Singer and Kirk Singer plays for 40 consecutive years. Sam helped create the Maundy Thursday presentation of the Last Supper and directed it for many, many years. He served several terms as an Elder and as a Trustee, was President of the Corporation, and was also the Treasurer for multiple terms. Sam loved history and spent much time researching the history of First Presbyterian Church as well as its buildings and stained glass windows. His knowledge about the church was inspiring and legendary.
Sam loved spending time with his family at Crooked Lake and the mountains of North Carolina. Most important to Sam was his faith and his family. He was deeply committed to his family, and took great pleasure in spending time with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He loved his family and was a friend to so many.
A great fisherman, Sam loved both deep sea fishing as well as fresh water fishing in the Everglades and at Crooked Lake. Sam was blessed with an astute mind, an engaging leadership style, and a gentleness of spirit. He loved the Carolina Tarheels and was a true tarheel born and bred. A loyal friend to all, Sam was a Southern gentleman who will be remembered for his kindness, grace, and faith.
Sam was predeceased by his parents, Evelyn Fitch and Linwood Branton Hollowell. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Barbara; his devoted daughters, Suzanne McCawley and her husband, Paul, of Fort Lauderdale, FL; and Caroline Showers and her husband, Josh, of Greensboro, NC; his five grandchildren whom he adored, Sam McCawley, Patrick McCawley, Evelyn McCawley, Ashlyn Showers, and Lauren Showers; his brother, Lin Hollowell and his wife, Sybil, of Gastonia, NC; his sister, Linda Miller, of Gastonia, NC; his nieces Christia Fisher, Sheldon Tucker, Melissa McHenry, Brooke Hayes, Allison Johnson; and nephew Lin Hollowell.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Harvey T. and Christy Reid Kirk Singer Scholarship Fund or the Joseph Severance Booth Scholarship, both at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, 401 SE 15th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 or The John Knox Village Foundation, 651 SW 6th Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060.
A memorial service will be held at a future date. Arrangements under the direction of Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
