Samuel Wade Mendelson, formerly of Somerville, New Jersey and a retired resident of Stonecroft Village in Marion Township, Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, passed away at St. Joseph Medical Center outside of Reading, Pennsylvania on Friday, January 4, 2019. He was the elder son of Myron Samuel Mendelson and Grace Smith Mendelson and was born June 7, 1947. He attended Plainfield Public Schools in New Jersey and graduated from Plainfield High School in 1965.
He earned an AB degree from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1969. In 1975 he graduated from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey with an MA degree in School Administration. Sam also did additional graduate studies beyond his Master’s degree at various New Jersey universities.
Sam was an educator. He began as an elementary teacher at the Green Bank School in Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey in 1969. He was an elementary and middle school teacher in Somerville Public Schools from 1970-1980, where he also served as a program supervisor.
Sam went on to become Superintendent and Principal of the Bloomsbury Elementary School in Bloomsbury, New Jersey from 1980-1983. From 1983-2001 he served as Principal of the East Amwell School in Ringoes, New Jersey, during which time he served additionally as Superintendent of that district for two years Post-retirement, Sam was Interim Principal at the IEF School in Green Brook, New Jersey in the fall of 2001. His final professional endeavor was as Clinical Instructor to new teacher candidates for Kean University at Linden High School, Linden, New Jersey from 2003-2013.
Sam had been a member of United Reformed Church in Somerville, New Jersey. He was elected to four terms on the Consistory of United Reformed Church as an Elder and as a Deacon. He served as well as Clerk of that Consistory.
He was also a Retired Life Member of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association and a member of the Local 746, American Federation of Musicians, from 1963-2010. Additionally, he was President of the Hunterdon County Audio-Visual Aids Commission, and an officer of the Somerville Federation of Teachers and of the Hunterdon County School Administrators Association. In his younger days, Sam was also a member of the Somerville Jaycees and served on the Tour of Somerville committee.
Sam is survived by his wife of 47 1/2 years, Cynthia Polly Sparks Mendelson; and a nephew Lt. James Thomas Mendelson and a great niece Samantha Kimberly Mendelson, both of Round Hill Virginia. He was predeceased by his younger brother Myron Thomas Mendelson in 2014 and has several cousins living throughout the United States.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 11 a.m. Bean Funeral Home 3825 Penn Ave. , Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. The Reverend Paul E. Bartlett will officiate.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A memorial service for Sam will occur Saturday, January 26 at 11 a.m. at United Reformed Church, 100 West Main Street, Somerville, New Jersey. Visitation will occur at the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104, designated for student scholarships; to Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption, Inc., P.O. Box 335, Cranford, New Jersey 07016; or to United Reformed Church. Online condolences may be made at www.
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