Samuel R. Whiting

DELMAR - Samuel Robert Whiting, 85, died peacefully at home on Monday, July 7, 2014. Sam was born February 28, 1929, in Vernon, N.Y., to Robert Edward Whiting and Esther Louise (Shafer) Whiting. The family lived in Sherrill, Round Lake and Albany, and moved to Delmar when Sam was in the third grade. He was schooled at Delmar Elementary and Bethlehem Central Junior/Senior High School, graduating in 1946. He enlisted in the US Army shortly afterward and joined the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper. Upon his discharge, he enrolled in St. Lawrence University and graduated in 1953. After working in a variety of fields, teaching high school in Fleischmanns, New York, and insurance, in 1958 he married Elsie Lingelbach of Canajoharie. Later he enrolled in Albany Law School, where he received his J.D. in 1964. His first job was with the firm of Dugan, Casey, Burke and Lyons. In 1970 he joined the office of the District Attorney of Albany County. After the experience in the District Attorney's office, Whiting and fellow lawyer Roger Fritts branched off and established Fritts and Whiting in Delmar. From 1971 on, Fritts and Whiting served the Delmar and Albany County area's legal needs in an ever-expanding operation that covered property, estate, and other aspects of the law. Fritts and Whiting later joined with DeAngelis, Kaplowitz, Murphy and Runion. After a career that spanned more than 40 years, he ended his career at Hinman Straub in Albany. A high school baseball player at Bethlehem Central, Sam remained a sportsman throughout his life. He was an avid softball player with a number of local teams in the region. While teaching high school in Fleischmanns, Sam learned to ski, the sport that became his passion. From camps at Loon Lake and Windham Mountain, Sam took his family to the regional ski trails at Whiteface, Gore, and Windham. Elsie and he also explored the difficult, exhilarating trails in Colorado and Austria. He became a ski instructor at Windham, and Sam became known as one of the beloved instructors introducing children to his favorite sport. Sam Whiting is survived by his loving wife, Elsie, two daughters, Lisa (Peter) Deering and Krista Whiting, two granddaughters, Amelia and Louisa Deering, two brothers, Alan and Edward, and numerous nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, July 10th from 4 to 7 pm at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. A memorial service will be held 10 am Friday, July 11th at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 85 Elm Ave., Delmar. Private burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marjorie Mellor Fund - AMC Foundation, 43 New Scotland Avenue, MC-119, Albany, New York 12208-3478.