Albert J. “Al” Samborn, age 100, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at the Chelsea Retirement Community-Glazier Commons in Chelsea, Michigan. Born November 19, 1922, in Clare, MI, he was the 6th of 8 children of the late Everett and Cynthia (Fox) Samborn.
Al graduated from Clare High School, where he took part in all sports, including football, basketball, baseball, track, tennis, and boxing, and was a champion debater. He attended Albion College for a year before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. From 1943-1946 he served as an aviation radioman/tail gunner in a PV-2 plane on submarine patrol duty along the Atlantic coastline of the U.S. and Cuba, and as a communications instructor.
After the Navy, Al entered the University of Michigan and graduated in 1949, where he became an avid Michigan football and basketball fan. He even proudly displayed a football that was signed to him on his 80th Birthday by Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr. He majored in speech, and upon graduation he was hired by WPAG in Ann Arbor, where he worked as a broadcaster for 17 years, serving as News and Program Director.
In 1966, Al made an abrupt change in occupation when he was recruited to become the Executive Vice President of the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors. In a story about Al in the Ann Arbor News, the President of the Board of Realtors was quoted as saying, “Al has helped make the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors an organization that is looked up to as one of the leading influences in the community. Almost single-handedly, he has gotten the board to take a positive attitude toward civic concerns. He is one of the most respected executive officers (of real estate boards) in the state of Michigan.”
In 1969, Al left the Board to become a realtor and opened his own office in Ann Arbor. Shortly after enrolling at the University of Michigan, Al married his home town sweetheart, Marguirete “Mick” (McPhall), and moved to Dexter, MI, where he lived for most of his life. Al and Mick had two children, Jim and Cheryl, whom they loved and actively supported throughout their lives. Al never missed a school event or sporting event involving his kids, and after a long day at work he spent hours throwing footballs, hitting baseballs and enjoying his family. He was a regular MC for Dexter High School’s talent shows, and he spoke numerous times at assemblies at the high school on motivation and positive thinking.
Later in life, Al and Mick enjoyed wintering in Bradenton, Florida, where they kept a second home and remained active and social well into their 80s.Al was always active in community affairs. He was a member of the Dexter Board of Education, the State board of directors of the Michigan United Fund, the public relations committee for the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, and the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights. He was also president of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, the County chairman for Michigan Week, president of the Dexter Community Chest, chairman of the Dexter Methodist Church Building Fund campaign, a member of the executive committee of the county chapter of the American Red Cross, and vice president of the Executive Officers Council of the Michigan Real Estate Association.
One of Al’s passions was his writing. From high school through well into his late 90’s, he wrote poetry and prose nearly every day and never missed an opportunity to pen a letter to those he loved most dearly. After moving to the Chelsea Retirement Community in 2015, he published his third collection of his works, became a regular reporter for CRC’s local newspaper, and joined the Creative Writing Group. His family was always impressed that, contrary to the normal stereotype of seniors and technology, Al was technically proficient and easily used his computer, iPad, and iPhone until he turned 100.
Although he put up with Parkinson’s disease, congestive heart failure, and skin cancer among other things, he never complained or let those ailments slow him down. He accepted his conditions with grace, and as a lifetime philosopher, he recognized and accepted that living to 100 came with a heavy price that he was more than willing to pay.
Family meant everything to Al, who once wrote that if asked for final words in this life, he would like his to be, “I loved my family most of all.” He will be remembered fondly as a loving father, grandfather, and uncle, a loyal friend, and a devoted husband to his beautiful wife, who he loved dearly.
Al is preceded in death by his loving wife, Marguirete Samborn, his sisters, Juanita Ruth Spence, Margaret Hope Tucker, and Leona Maude Brown, and his brothers, Wilson Devere Samborn, Merle Everett Samborn, Wesley Warren Samborn, and Robert Eugene Samborn.
He is survived by his children, James Samborn of Ann Arbor, MI, and Cheryl Dell’Anno of Shoreline, WA; his three grandchildren, Alison Samborn, Lara Gino, and Anthony Dell’Anno Jr.; and great-grandchildren, John and Henry Gino, and Kaeley, Max, and Annelise Dell’Anno.
There will be no service at this time, although a memorial may take place in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Chelsea Retirement Community (a member of Brio Living Services) at https://foundation.mybrio.org or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org).
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
