Obituary of Steven R. Samuelson

Steven R Samuelson, 51, of Suffolk, VA, passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Chesapeake, VA. Steve was born May 23, 1968 in Jamestown, NY, the son of Joyce (Cresanti) Samuelson and Robert Samuelson. He graduated Jamestown High School in 1986, and SUNY Fredonia, where he earned his BS of Business Administration in 1992. During his 30 year career in corporate retail merchandising, Steve held management positions at Waldenbooks/Borders, Cabela's and, most recently, as Director of Assortment Planning at Dollar Tree in Chesapeake, VA. It was during his first year at Waldenbooks in Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood, NY that he met his wife of 22 years, Amy (Whitney) Samuelson. Steve (a.k.a. Nature Boy) will be remembered as a wildlife enthusiast and for his love of the great outdoors. He spent countless hours driving the backroads of wherever he lived, looking for wildlife he could photograph. He was well known among his family and friends for his stunning wildlife photography. He even embraced his wife's love of traveling to new places as opportunities to capture more wildlife experiences and images. Steve was an avid hunter and the highlight of his year was always the annual hunting trip with his cousins. Steve also adored his beloved Gordon Setters, Riley and Wilson, and his Bernese Mountain Dog, Daisy. As an animal lover, Steve graciously welcomed every stray kitten his wife brought home over the years. In addition to his wife, Amy, Steve is survived by his mother, Joyce, his brothers Dave (Elaine) Samuelson of Shanghai, China and Brian (Susan) Samuelson of Owego, NY, and by his sister Dawn (Greg) Wozneak of Westfield, NY. He is also survived by his father Robert Samuelson of Jamestown, NY. Steve's family also includes his mother-in-law, Sandra Whitney of Durham, NC, brothers-in-law Robert Knight of Stockholm, Sweden, Michael (Jennifer) Behr of McDonald, PA and Michael Whitney of Austin, TX, and sister-in-law Sherry (Tim) Silcox of Durham, NC. Steve was also an uncle to Brianna Samuelson, Christian Samuelson, Matthew Samuelson, Josephine Samuelson, Jordan Silcox, Carter Silcox, Sarah Behr and Michael Behr. Several aunts, uncles and cousins are also devastated by his unexpected passing. Steve is preceded in death by his father-in-law, Ralph Whitney of Ashville, NY, his maternal grandparents Joseph and Stella Cresanti of Jamestown, NY, and his paternal grandparents Robert and Vera Samuelson of Jamestown, NY. The family will receive friends from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 in the Lind Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, you may instead donate to Messenger Woods Wildlife Care & Education Center, a non-profit organization that provides rehabilitation services for injured wildlife at a hospital and treatment center in Holland, NY. They also have numerous home-care satellites providers in the greater Buffalo area, including Steve's Godmother, Judy Cresanti, whose primary focus is rehabilitating birds of prey. You can donate online by going to their website, www.messingerwoods.org and clicking the "Donate" button in the top right corner, or by mail to Messenger Woods Wildlife Center, P.O. Box 508, Orchard Park, NY 14127.