Remembering An Influential Professor
Theresa Hall
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: News
The Utica College community came together to celebrate the life of a professor Friday afternoon in the Library Concourse.
Over 100 faculty members and students gathered to remember and share their memories of Shirley Samuels, who was an adjunct professor of English. Two screens projected pictures of Samuels with her friends and family throughout the years.
Samuels died over winter break at the age of 83. She was born in New York City in 1923 and attended both Cornell University and UC. She began teaching English at UC in 1959. Samuels also taught at Mount Markham High School and at Herkimer County Community College. She retired in 1985 but continued to teach at UC until her death.
Samuels had many interests that included books, art, photography, travel and politics. It was a known fact that Samuels loved martinis. A drink at Space 26 was even named after her. Samuels worked on Michael Arcuri's congressional campaign and was an advocate of Planned Parenthood.
Todd Hutton, President of UC, began the ceremony by bringing out a box of tissues, which came in handy during the ceremony. According to Hutton, Samuels was a direct person who would tell anyone the unvarnished truth.
"Shirley took a personal interest in her students, she even invited them to her home for dinner," Hutton said. Hutton also said that Samuels was passionate about life, friends and family, and UC.
Cecilia Friend, professor of journalism, knew Samuels for 12 years. They became fast friends.
"Traveling was a bond that we both shared," Friend said through tears. Friend said that they traveled together many times and one time in particular stuck in her mind. She said they were on a trail in Italy and moved to the side to let others pass by, but Samuels carried on a conversation with them and almost was offered a job teaching in Italy.
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