Donald Jerome Samuels' Obituary
Former Broward County School Board member, Dr. Donald “Don” Jerome Samuels, age 80 passed away peacefully on February 24th at his home in Tamarac after battling Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. He is at peace now as he joins his late spouse Mimi Samuels from whom he was widowed in 2002. Don was born in Brooklyn, NY, son of the late Martin and Sally Samuels. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in Science and Physical Education. He then completed a Master’s Degree at Queens College in Health Education. Don moved to South Florida in 1965 with his wife Mimi and began his career in education as a PE teacher in the Dade County Public Schools. He ultimately pursued his Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from NSU and continued his lifelong devotion to education. He served as a principal in the Dade County Schools and ultimately landed himself in Politics where he served as Chairman of the Broward County School Board, an elected political position he held for four terms, a total of sixteen years devoted to politics in Broward County. Don was also concerned about raising drug awareness and preventing drug addiction. He served as an adjunct professor for many local colleges speaking about drug prevention and education. He implemented many programs we have flourishing today in the Broward School System. He was highly active and an impetus in starting The BRACE program, DARE and Tech H schools as well as the Peer Counseling Program in the schools. Don co-wrote the Peer Counseling Handbook with his wife Mimi which was published in 1975 and utilized to train others. He also published various articles for local newspapers, magazines, and journals always related to his concern for at risk youth and promoting drug education. Don was a keynote speaker at various workshops and conferences around the country. He served on many task forces and traveled doing public speaking and always advocated for children whatever the forum. He was fortunate to be the recipient of many different awards and was recognized for his many contributions. He is survived by his children Jodi Samuels Shir and Brian Samuels as well as his son-in-law Guy, his daughter-in-law Jodi and his five grandchildren. Don led a vibrant life in which he spent most of his leisure time playing racquetball. However, just like his vocational devotion to children, so too was his love for his grandchildren and his favorite time recently was spent watching his grandchildren and he devoted countless hours to attending mommy and me, various baby classes, and watching them perform in school functions and sports and extracurricular activities. Donations may be made in memory of Donald Samuels to the Broward Partnership for the Homeless, https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/thebrowardpartnership. A funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at noon at Levitt Weinstein/Beth David in Hollywood 3201 North 72nd Avenue followed by a burial at Lakeside Memorial Park. The family will be sitting Shiva for Don at the home of his daughter Jodi Shir. May his memory be a blessing!
Arrangements by Levitt-Weinstein Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel (305) 932-2700.
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