Jeffrey Samson

GORHAM – Jeffrey Samson, 75, passed away peacefully at the Gorham House in Gorham on Nov. 4, 2024. He will be remembered by family and friends for the many adventures they shared as well as his sense of humor and dedication to teaching.

Jeff was born in Northampton, Mass. on May 14, 1949 to the late Ernest George Samson and the late Stella (Cartotto) Pelton. Jeff’s older brother, Richard Ernest Samson, predeceased him.

He was educated in the Northampton Public Schools and graduated from Northampton High School in 1967. He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1973.

He worked as a middle and high school science teacher in Attleboro, Mass. and Yarmouth. After teaching Earth Science for nearly two decades at Gateway Regional High School in Huntington, Mass., he became a vice principal of the school before he retired in 2008. His students loved his class and often called him their favorite teacher.

Jeff married his beloved wife, Joyann Samson in 1986 and was married to her for 32 years before her death in 2018. He and Joyann moved back to Maine after retirement and lived in Rockport and in Tenants Harbor, where he made many cherished friends. He considered Joyann’s children, Heidi and Nathan, his children.

Jeff was a member of the Nativity Lutheran Church in Rockport. Jeff had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed making friends and family laugh. He loved dogs and cats, having many over the years. He loved airplanes and often attended airshows with friends and family.

He and Joyann loved to travel–they explored many national parks, the Caribbean and Europe together. They would often travel with his brother-in-law, Richard Pelletier and sister-in-law, Judy Pelletier, sharing many adventures.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, especially when he and Joyann would host them in the summers in Rockport and Tenants Harbor. He missed Joyann terribly and they are together again now.

Surviving are his daughter, Heidi Henderson and her husband Francisco Smith of Brooklyn, N.Y., son, Nathan Henderson and his wife Angela Gospodarek of Gorham; one granddaughter, Maya Joy Smith, three grandsons, Reed, Graham and Finn Henderson; as well as many cherished in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Nativity Lutheran Church in Rockport on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Jeffrey may make gifts in his memory to the

Nativity Lutheran Church,

179 Old County Rd.,

Rockport, ME 04856