Plan for the Future
Samuel M. Kinney III, 59
Samuel Marks Kinney III was a family man. He was many other things, but it was among his large and extended family that Sam shone. He laughed, he teased, he taught, he mentored and he listened. Friends and family who surrounded him each Christmas Eve were given a rare gift indeed. A warm home, good food, and conversations that ranged from politics to sailing to lacrosse. Every year closed with a nice glass of red wine and an impassioned reading of ‘Twas the Night before Christmas.
Sam loved his life. He loved his wife of 34 years, Beth Driscoll Kinney. He was enormously proud of his children Meg and Mark, whom he launched into the world with love, compassion and confidence. He welcomed new son-in-law Scott Davis with warmth and good humor. He loved his adopted home town of Summit, NJ, where he lived for more than 30 years. He was an enthusiastic fan of Morristown-Beard and Colgate Lacrosse. He was an avid golfer, and he loved to sail.
From his honeymoon sails in Hilton Head on a Sunfish to weeks-long adventures from the Chesapeake to Martha’s Vineyard on “Loon” and later “Grace,” Sam was at home on the sea or sound, with his bride by his side, welcoming anyone to join, whether kids, pets, friends or their prospective mates. He loved sunset sails at Liberty State Park and cruising out of Norwalk Yacht Club, where he was a member, served on the Board of directors, and was a past cruise committee chair.
Sam was deeply spiritual, committed to his faith and his church. A longtime member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit, he served on Vestry twice, was a member and former chair of the Outreach Committee, taught Sunday School and mentored the youth group. An usher for more than 25 years, he was a Ward J. Herbert Fund board member for the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.
He lived his beliefs through his volunteerism and kindness. He stepped in for his ill brother-in-law and made a temporary home for his nephew Dan Kagdis as he finished high school. He was known as “Uncle Sam” to 18 nieces and nephews and countless young people he met through his friends and children. He was a volunteer soccer coach for his children’s teams and was a longtime member and past president of the Summit Police Athletic League. He was a self-proclaimed expert at selecting pet cats.
Samuel died on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 59 from a brain tumor that challenged everything he held dear, but didn’t defeat him.
He is survived by his wife, Beth Driscoll Kinney, his daughter Margaret McNamara Kinney Davis and her husband Scott Patrick Davis of Brooklyn, NY; and his son Samuel Marks Kinney IV, of New York, NY. In addition to his wife and children, Sam is survived by his mother Kathryn Clouser Kinney of Westfield, NJ; his sister Lee Kinney Anthony of Villanova, PA; brother Brian Kinney and his wife Nancy of Mountainside, NJ; and 17 nieces and nephews, two grand nieces and nephews, dozens of in-laws and outlaws and countless friends. He was predeceased by his father, Samuel M. Kinney, Jr and his dear nephew Russell Edward Kinney.
He was a Senior Vice President at Willis, insurance brokers, and was based in Morristown, NJ. . Born in Plainfield, NJ, he grew up in Westfield, NJ, where he was known as Mark. He attended high school at Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ, and received his BA in English from the College of Wooster, Wooster Ohio.
A memorial visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 & 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 26, 2014 at Bradley, Brough & Dangler Funeral Home, 309 Springfield Avenue, Summit, New Jersey. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Calvary Episcopal Church, 31 Woodland Ave., Summit, NJ and he will be interred at the Garden of the Resurrection, Calvary Episcopal Church. Donations in Sam’s memory can be made to Calvary Episcopal Church Youth and Outreach Ministry, 31 Woodland Ave, Summit, NJ 07901 or to the Overlook Hospital Foundation, 36 Upper Overlook Road, P.O. Box 220, Summit, NJ 07902-0220.