Samuel G.H. Peake

Sam was born on August 21, 1928, in Shanghai, China, to Elizabeth Heller and Augustus William Peake. He spent his first ten years with his parents and brother Bill, in the English Settlement in Shanghai, before beginning a long, uncertain journey that would take him around the world.

At age ten, Sam traveled by boat with his family to England, where he lived for a year with his father’s family. Then he spent a year in Canada with his mother before finally securing a visa to come to the United States. He then stayed in Greene, NY, with his mother’s family for a year before her illness required treatment in Canada. While his father worked in NYC, Sam lived with three different families as a boarder in Oneida Castle, NY, eventually graduating from Oneida High School in 1947.

He built his own motorcycle, once tried to outrun the cops in his Model T, and knew just about everyone in Oneida Castle from his days delivering milk door to door. Sam made lifelong friends in Oneida—Walt, Leon, R.J., and Tommy—who he imagined would be waiting to meet him at the McDonald’s “heaven side” for coffee and a laugh.

In 1949, he graduated from the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences at Utica (now MVCC), where he studied mechanical engineering, business, and liberal arts. Though trained in many fields, he spent his career as a draftsman, retiring from Niagara Mohawk. Fittingly, his last drafting project came at age 90, when he drew up plans for his daughter’s garage.

During his formative high school years, he discovered his lifelong love of music. In high school, he met his lifelong friend Walt, and together they played gigs across upstate New York—sometimes hauling an upright piano into the back of a pickup truck and carrying it up a flight of stairs to play in second-floor bars. With Walt, Sam saved money and traveled the country, visiting just about all of the 50 states.

Later, with his friend Leon, he returned to Arizona, where they purchased and ran a trailer park to live the easy life and become Millionaires. Spoiler alert-this did not happen-but instead, he fell in love with Arizona. In one of his few regrets, Sam sold his Gibson guitar just before it became worth a fortune. What did last, though, were the lessons he shared with everyone around him: to live with kindness and compassion, to always do the right thing, to keep a positive attitude no matter the situation, and to remember that relationships are far more valuable than money. If you met him, chances are he made you feel like the most important person in the room.

In the truest sense, Sam was a millionaire in the countless lives he touched and inspired.

Sam proudly became a U.S. citizen after many years of perseverance—a moment he treasured throughout his life in Arizona in 1955.

Music remained his constant. In Arizona, he joined a band with Ruby and her husband Lee, and in 1960, helped them start Ruby's very successful business, "Arizona Music Center", where he worked in the back repairing instruments/giving lessons. Though he was never one to seek the spotlight, he found joy in helping others make music. Also noteworthy, he was a big supporter and teacher to His grandchildren, Holly on the ukulele and Tyler on piano.

Back in New York, Sam met Madeline, and the two were married in 1973. He legally adopted her son, Tony, and together they had their daughter, Elizabeth. Sam was heartbroken when both Madeline and Tony passed away in 1995.

Eventually, he returned to Arizona and reconnected with Ruby. Their friendship grew into love, and the two were married in 1998, sharing 17 years until Ruby’s passing.

After celebrating his 90th birthday in Arizona, Sam moved back to New York to live with his daughter Beth and her family, where he spent his final years surrounded by love, music, and laughter.

Sam was predeceased by his parents, Augustus and Elizabeth Peake, his brother William "Bill" Peake, his wives Madeline "Maize" Peake, Cecilia "Ruby" Ann Peake, his son Tony Peake, and his grandson Sam R. Peake. With his passing, an era of the Peakes comes to a close—a generation of stories, music, laughter, and love that will be remembered and carried forward by those whose lives he touched.

Sam is survived by so many loved ones:

His New York Family with Madeline including his daughter, Beth and favorite son-in-law Josh Aust; his grandchildren, Autumn, Mackenzie, Holly, and Tyler. The first two inherited his sense of humor. The latter two shared his passion for music. His honorary grandchildren, Travis, Taiden, and Tabi; his nieces and nephews, Gerry Monteux; Don and Sue Meeker; Theresa and James Murray; Anna Kohl and Ray Camarata; Beverly Burr Garner and Dave Brown; Patty and Jerry Collea; Carl Burr; and Bill Perry.

His Arizona family with Ruby: his step-children, Diana Lee Messana, Jacqueline Stevens, and Richard Lee "Rick" Dominguez; his step-grandchildren, Francesca and John; Stefano and Jessie; Angela; Audrey and Jeremiah; Rhiannon; and Soni Lee and Gary; his step-great-grandchildren: Elana, Jazlyn, Jaziah, Daniel, Preston, Leila, Jett, Kinsley, Rhylynn, Jack, and Lily Rose; other loved ones left behind include Lisa and Greg Loveless; Joe and Jess Hart; Cathy and Rick Hart; Jen and Tim Peters; and Ashley and Jeremy Aust. And of course, his friend and "wing mate" Alice Keville.

Special thanks to Hospice of CNY and especially Naomi and Patty. Sam will be remembered for his kindness, his quiet humor, his deep love of music, and his incredible life stories. He had the gift of turning memories into adventures, leaving behind not just history, but inspiration. Friends and family are invited to gather and remember Sam with coffee, pie and smiles at 1:00 pm on Sunday October 12, 2025, at Oneida American Legion, 398 N. Main St. Oneida, NY 13421

And as Sam would always remind us, no matter the distance, we can always "Smile at Miles.”

Honor Sam's memory with a memorial listing that supports Francis House via their website: Francishouse.org