Michael Stephen Samis, 67, died peacefully, surrounded by his beloved family, after an inspirational and courageous 15-year fight against cancer on October 22, 2020. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, he was the son of James Maynard and Shirley Ann “Shan” Samis.
Mike’s life was forever changed when he started at Casady School his sophomore year of high school, where he soon met the love of his life, Karen Hulsey Samis. They began dating in 1970, when he was 17 and she was 16, and were married June 21, 1974. It has been 50 years of friendship, love, and inseparability. It was also at Casady that Mike developed deep friendships that last to this day, including with the godparents to his and Karen’s daughters.
Mike received his BA in finance from the University of Oklahoma and his Masters in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. Later in life, he achieved what may have been his favorite degree when he graduated from the Skip Barber Racing School, where he earned his competitive racing license. He won the INEX Legends Road Course World Championship twice; the Masters Series in 1999, and the Pro Series in 2002.
In 1982, he joined Macklanburg-Duncan Co., “M-D”, a manufacturer of home improvement products. He served as President and CEO from 1990-2000, when the company was sold to General Electric. Samis was Chairman of MD Building Products, a spinoff of M-D, until 2007.
Governor David Walters asked Mike to be the initial Chairman of the University Hospitals Authority in 1993. For the next 27 years, he unreservedly poured his time and talents into building and delivering the highest quality health care for Oklahomans. He led the negotiations resulting in the Joint Operating Agreement between University Hospitals and the HCA-owned Presbyterian Hospital in 1998 that resulted in more than one billion dollars of capital and operational investments, and in 2018 managed the purchase of HCA’s interest in the JOA, and the creation of OU Medicine, Inc., “OUMI”, a $1.5 billion Oklahoma owned and operated not-for-profit hospital system. The Samis Family Education Center, adjacent to the Children’s Atrium on the OU Health Sciences Center campus, was dedicated in recognition of Mike’s mission to advance medical education, research and care in our state.
Mike served as a director of BancFirst; Sovereign Asset Management, an investment vehicle of the Chickasaw Nation; Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Dean McGee Eye Institute; the Stephenson Cancer Center Advisory Council; as a Director of the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from 1995 – 2001; and as the chair of the board of trustees of the University of Oklahoma Foundation, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Casady School.
The University of Oklahoma recognized his contributions and achievements by awarding him the Regents’ Alumni Award, The Dean’s Award for Distinguished Community Service, and an Honorary Doctorate, and Casady School awarded him the Alumni Achievement Award and Distinguished Graduate Award.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Karen, two daughters; Carter Fellers and husband Fred, and Katharine Regens and husband Kent; five grandchildren, Thomas and Hulsey Fellers, and Benjamin, William, and Charles Regens, all of Oklahoma City. He is also survived by his parents Jim and Shan Samis; his siblings Susan and husband Peter Hoffman, Linda and husband Ron James, Jimmy Samis and wife Lynn, Bobby Samis and wife Mary Kay, Shirley and husband Pete Everest.
Mike loved nothing more than his family and their time together. He became a grandfather in 2010, and over the next nine years was blessed with four more grandchildren. They adoringly called him “Keke”. Keke found joy and strength through them. His favorite times were spent at their summer home in Harbor Springs, Michigan. He loved taking them on boat rides, bike rides, and snuggling with them in his recliner as he watched, and explained the intricacies of, football, golf, or racing.
Mike did not seek affirmation, and he worked tirelessly towards the best for everyone, regardless of whether they were family, friends, or strangers. He was humble, his empathy was limitless, and he was a giant of a man with an even bigger heart.
Visitation will be at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Monday, October 26, from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. A private, family-only service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday October 28th, at All Souls’ Episcopal Church. The service will be live-streamed for guests to join at Facebook.com/Allsoulsokc
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Foundation, The Stephenson Cancer Center, and Casady School.
