G. W. Samuelson

He was born on May 4, 1942, in Jamestown, New York, the son of George and Mildred Samuelson. He attended Jamestown schools, graduating in 1960. He furthered his education at Jamestown Community College and earned his Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees at Fredonia State. For many years he taught science, first at Lincoln Junior High School and later at Jamestown High School. During his teaching career he was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for a full year of study at Texas A&M University to further his education in earth science. He always enjoyed meeting his former students and hearing of their lives following graduation.

Bill also followed his father’s occupation in professional theatre, first as a projectionist at the Lakewood Drive In during his early college years and then as a stagehand at Chautauqua Institution’s Norton Hall and Amphitheater during the summer season. He rose to become the Business Agent for IATSE Local 266, the stagehand’s union, and guided the union for many years in that role. In recognition of his efforts, he was honored by the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council with the George Ritzer Award, which is given annually on Labor Day to one individual who has volunteered significant time and effort to advance the labor movement and for the betterment of the community.

In the 1980’s, when a small group of local citizens formed a committee to try to save the closed Palace Theatre in Jamestown, Bill was approached to see what could be done to try to make the 1920’s stage of the theatre safe and usable. At his request and under his direction, the membership of the stagehands union volunteered their labor and expertise for many hundreds of hours of time and effort over a nine month construction period, completely revitalizing the stage, and making it safe and able to be used for the next four years to demonstrate that the Palace was a valuable asset to the community.

After his retirement from teaching Bill felt he had the time to begin exploring the world with his sister, Johann, with whom he resided. Together over many years they enjoyed trips to all seven continents, riding elephants and camels, swimming in the Australian Great Barrier Reef, walking along the Great Wall of China, exploring pyramids in Egypt, sailing to Hawaii and to isolated islands in the Pacific, seeing African wildlife up close, cruising up and swimming in the Amazon, flying around Mt. Everest, hiking up to the hidden Machu Picchu, seeing the Taj Mahal in India, and many more.

In addition to travel, Bill enjoyed swimming at the Boys and Girls Club, and bowling and golf with his friends and former teachers.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters and brothers-in-law, Natalie (Vern) Nelson and Marilyn (Charles) Reynolds. He is survived by his sister, Johann, his brother, John (Carol), his nephew, William Reynolds, his nephew, Jonathan (Elsa) Nelson, and two grand nieces, Eliza and Clara Nelson.

Visitation will be on Wednesday at 1 pm at Lind’s Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service at 2 pm with internment to follow at Lakeview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown.

You may leave words of condolence at lindfuneralhome.com.