Samuel George Milwit

Sam Milwit was born Dec.1, 1939 with his identical twin in Vancouver Barracks, Washington. Sam was setting or breaking records the day he was born as he and his twin brother set a low birth weight record for the state of Washington for their premature 7-month birth at 2 lbs and 1 1/2 lbs respectively.

Sam and his twin brother Sandy played organized baseball since they were 10 years old at Turkey Thicket Rec. Center in NE Washington, DC

In those days, the way one made the baseball team was that you literally only had one shot at it. Sam hit a home run and I hit a double, which was the beginning of a life-long love of sports and kept us playing together for most of our lives.

From DC, it was onto Ft. Belvoir, Va. where our father was stationed. While there from ages 11-13, we met life-long friends.

After Ft. Belvoir, it was onto Japan via an eleven-day troop ship, the USS Gaffey along with our sister, Myra and mother, Ida.

We attended our last three years at Yokohama High School (Yo-Hi) from 1954-57 where we stared on the varsity baseball team in our sophomore year. Sam had a .420 three-year batting average, and as a sophomore center fielder, Sam had the strongest arm on the team.

We also played varsity football and basketball. Having lettered seven times, Sam was elected president of the Letterman’s club.

Sam loved couch Buxkemper who even named a football play after him entitled the “Milwit Special”.

In football, Sam was the punter, safety, and offensive guard. In his second year his team won two consecutive All Japan High School Championships, and Sam intercepted 5 passes of which he ran back two for touchdowns. After graduating from Yo-Hi, our father, Col. Herbert Milwit, had his last assignment at the Fifth Army Headquarters in Chicago. We lived just a few doors down from Abe Saperstein, the founder and owner of the Harlem Globetrotters and we became good friends with his family.

Sam was the winning pitcher for our Bombers team when he threw a two-hitter against the former Chicago south side Champions.

Then, it was onto the University of Maryland where Sam, in his senior year, became president of our college fraternity, AEPi. While serving as president, Sam also won the Best Athlete of The Year award.

While at the University, Sam met Carol Brenner with whom he married after he graduated.

Shortly after graduation, Sam joined the Milton S. Kronheim Wholesale Liquor Distributorship Co. (later called National Distributors) where he worked for 42 years as a former VP and as leader in that industry. Half way through his career, Sam was voted Man of The Year, and he was duly recognized at the Industry’s annual black tie banquet.

Sam and Sandy became certified bowling instructors at the University of Maryland and Sam had a team named appropriately for him, “Sam and Friends”.

Beside his love of ball, Sam loved golf, basketball, bowling and tennis. He was most proud of his hole-in-one that he made in May of 1997 at Indian Spring Country Club.

After his retirement, Sam became an all-star player in the Montgomery County’s slow pitch softball league.

It was twelve years ago that Sam had his most serious medical condition that resulted in many months of intensive rehabilitation. His friends Richard and Paula spent countless weeks working out with Sam. Even Sam’s friend and Rabbi, came to Sam’s home with his own baseball and glove to provide support and to play catch in Sam’s backyard.

As he improved he returned to playing senior softball, Sam was awarded the Montgomery County’s Senior Softball Association’s inaugural "Comeback Kid Award” at the Association’s annual banquet.

As Sam moved to an Assisted Living home, he had incredible support from countless friends and relatives. Perhaps the last demonstration of his ability to express himself as best he could was on Valentine’s Day, he was asked who was his favorite Valentine? He, unhesitatingly and with his magnificent huge smile, shouted “Carol”! And, without any prompting, Sam went on to extol all the virtues of his beloved wife of then 52 of their 56 years of marriage.

Sam was most proud of his sons Gary and Jerry as they entered the business world and he had a sincere love and caring for his entire family and many, many friends. Anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Sam has been better off for it.

Sam had the biggest heart, infections smile, the kindest, sincerest, caring person ever. He never had a bad word to say about anyone, always saw the good and was loved by all. His great character and integrity defines him.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 56-years Carol (Brenner) Milwit and was the devoted father of Gary (son) and Nicola Milwit and Jerry (son) and Susan Milwit; the beloved twin brother of Sanford and Josie (Gritz) Milwit and Myra (sister) Schwab and the (late) Joseph Schwab; and cherished grandfather of Lily, Tyler, Molly, and Andrew. He was the son of the late Colonel Herbert and Ida Milwit.

A Chinese philosopher said regarding HAPPINESS:

“If you want to find happiness for an hour, take a nap; if you want to find happiness for a day, go fishing; if you want to find happiness for a year, inherit a fortune; but if you want to find happiness for a life-time, do something for others.” And, therein is also what Sam Milwit was all about.