MARTIN RICHARD SAMOILOFF

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MARTIN RICHARD SAMOILOFF Peacefully, on September 22, 2002, with the presence of his loving family, Dr. Martin Richard Samoiloff, our beloved father, grandfather and husband, passed away at the age of 64 following a brief and courageous battle with cancer. Martin was born in London, England, on May 21, 1938, and spent his childhood years in Huntington, NY. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Armed Forces, and served as an army research technician and meteorologist in Utah, NE and Arizona from 1956 to 1958. It was during this time, while stationed in Arizona, he met his beloved wife of 44 years, Hortencia Acosta Samoiloff. They were married on May 9, 1958, and following an honourable discharge from the service he returned to New York and eventually Indiana to raise a family and attend university. Martin received his bachelors and masters degrees in science from the University of Indiana, and following a move to Canada in 1966, obtained a PhD in cell biology from the University of Waterloo. He moved to Winnipeg in 1969 where he began his teaching career in the Department of Zoology at the University of Manitoba. Martin was a brilliant scientist and an excellent, well respected teacher, and those who had the opportunity to work with him or attended his classes appreciated the knowledge and passion he expressed in his teachings. His love for teaching continued following his retirement from the university in 1994 when he was employed as an instructor in the chemical and biosciences program at Red River College from 1996 to 1998. In addition to his accomplished teaching career, Martin utilized his scientific knowledge to set up a successful business, providing laboratory testing services. His academic and business research led to the development of universally recognized biological testing procedures and established his world-wide reputation as an expert in the field of environmental toxicology and genetics. Throughout his life one of his greatest joys was travel. His fondest moments were spent travelling the highways with his wife and sidekick "Blackjack". Martin had a special fondness for the southwestern states in the U.S., where he enjoyed the old-west history and the beauty of nature. Martin also enjoyed baseball, and excelled as a player and a coach. His other hobbies included jazz and blues music, movies, books, and playing poker and blackjack with family and friends. Most of all Martin was a loving and caring father and husband, and possessed a deep love and devotion to his family. He was loved and admired by all who knew him, and his legacy will live on in the lives that he touched. His fun-loving character, bright outlook, and wicked sense of humour will forever be admired and remembered. Though he possessed a love for teaching his true love was his wife and loving mother, Hortencia. Theirs is an endless love that even in death will never be broken. Martin also leaves to proudly cherish his memory, four sons, Martin Jr., Clayton, Clifton and Orion; grandsons, Leo, Aaron and Evan; and daughters-in-law, Maritza, Debra and Diana. Martin was predeceased by his father Bernard Glemser, stepfather Lev Samoiloff, mother Louise Cripps, and loving son Sherman. He will also be missed by his special friend "Blackjack," as well as all other family, friends, colleagues and students he met throughout his lifetime. His family would like to express special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Victoria General Hospital for providing exceptional care and compassion. In our hearts and in our minds You will forever remain We Love You A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Richard Samoiloff will take place on Friday, September 27 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Leatherdale Gardiner Funeral Chapel, 1501 Waverley St. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to the Victoria Hospital Foundation, 2340 Pembina Hwy., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2E8. LEATHERDALE GARDINER 1501 Waverley Street 949-4860

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 26, 2002