Samuel E. Bunker

Sam was born in Yonkers, New York on August 6, 1927 as the third and youngest child of Harriet and Ellsworth Bunker. After spending his early childhood on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, he moved to a farm his parents had purchased in Dummerston (currently known as the Bunker Farm).

Sam would eventually enroll in the Putney School, class of 1945. He subsequently attended Yale University following a one year tour in the US army as an MP during the end of World War II.

After graduating from Yale in 1950 Sam returned to Vermont where he ran the Bunker Farm for many successful years. In 1962 Sam began his international career with the Ford Foundation’s Third World development program. He was posted to New Delhi, India where he served as assistant station chief until 1968. After returning to the US he earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University. Sam continued working as a program advisor for the Ford Foundation until 1972 when he was stationed in Beirut, Lebanon. Within a year he was appointed regional director of the Middle East and transferred to Cairo, Egypt from 1973-1976. He then returned to New York City for one year, finishing his tenure with the Ford Foundation as deputy director of the Middle East and Africa.

The next phase of Sam’s professional career brought him to Washington, DC as the director for the international division of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. During that time he traveled extensively throughout the world and was instrumental in bringing electricity to the rural underserved in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

Sam eventually retired in 1990 after twelve distinguished years with the NRECA. As a tribute, he was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 1992, honoring his decades of outstanding service to the international community. Sam’s commitment to the world’s underserved and poor was further evident through his participation on multiple boards, serving as vice chair of Care International, chairman of the Cooperative Housing Foundation, President of the Philippine-American Foundation, trustee for World Learning, and board member for Aid to Artisans.

Although Sam’s generosity, compassion, and commitment to helping those in need were his life’s mission and legacy, he also had a less serious and playful side. He always appreciated a good joke, enjoyed driving his mustang convertible while wearing a baseball cap and faux pony tail, and was an avid collector of any and all John Deere paraphernalia. Sam also took his Martinis very seriously: vodka, shaken, including Spanish olives, preferably with pimentos.

In his younger years Sam was an avid skier and along with his brother started the Yale ski team. He was proud to point out how he broke his nose twice while ski jumping, and was a veteran of Brattleboro’s own Harris Hill ski jump. Also in his earlier years he obtained his private pilot’s license, flying Piper Cubs and Cessnas throughout New England, Florida, and Alaska. He even flew while in India, where he was once “escorted” by the Indian Air Force after wandering a bit too close to the disputed Pakistani border.

Sam is preceded in death by his first wife Margery (nee Laub), his brother John, and son Stephen. He is survived by his second wife Virginia L. (nee Self) of Dummerston, sister Ellen Bunker of Tucson, daughter Jennifer Bunker of South Hero, and son James Bunker of Brattleboro. He is also survived by five grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH, on Friday, June 17th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A memorial service to honor Sam’s life will be held in the fall at a date and place to be announced.