- Date Of Birth: January 2, 1925
- Date Of Death: December 24, 2017
- State: Arizona
Dr. George Samuels passed away peacefully early on the morning of December 24, 2017, after a remarkable life spanning almost 93 years. A devoted and beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, George is survived by his wife of 54 years, Judy; his sons Andrew, Eric, and Mark; daughters in law Ingrid, Christine and Dianna, sisters Yvonne, Sonja and Iris, and grandchildren Lauren, Isabella, Sophia, Mackenzie and Sabrina. George Samuels was born on January 2, 1925 in Bad Oldesloe, Germany. He left Germany in 1939 for the Netherlands at just fourteen years of age to escape persecution due to his partially Jewish ancestry. In this new country George managed to learn the language, graduate from the top-tier Barlaeus Gymnasium prep school, and survive occupation, imprisonment and near starvation at the hands of the same hostile power he thought he had successfully fled. George then entered the University of Amsterdam medical school, from which he graduated with a doctorate in 1952, completing his medical studies with 2 years’ practical experience and the ‘Certificate of Arts’ for medical practice in 1955. At this point he made the fateful decision to become an American, emigrating to Baltimore, Maryland where he completed his internship at Union Memorial Hospital and his residency at Franklin Square hospital where he also served as Chief Resident. Although George was born in Europe he became, in the apt words of one nephew, ‘as American as they come.’ He never looked back, and following his residency did that quintessential American thing, heading out on the open road to find his permanent home. He had read Karl May and loved sunshine, so it was only natural that he should land in Arizona, ‘God’s Country’ as he put it. He lived here ever since that day in 1960. Here he met and married wife Judy, raised his family, and started his medical practice in South Phoenix. The early years were hard and lean, but the family knew how to get the most out of limited means and they built a happy life from what they had. George worked long hours, and cared greatly for his patients. As his medical practice grew and eventually flourished, he touched countless lives. He took great satisfaction from cracking a tough medical case, and would relate his favorite patient success stories until the end of his life. Indeed he left so many people better for having known him, whether through professional contact or personal friendship.
