SAMUEL H. CARTER, JR.

AMHERST—Samuel H. Carter, Jr., 87, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2012 at the Center for Extended Care with family by his side. Sam and his wife Betty moved to Amherst from New York in 1999 to live near their son Tim and niece Kristen and their families. 

A dapper Southern gentleman, Sam charmed everyone he met with his handsome looks, slow drawl, and beautiful baritone voice. He was born November 7, 1925 near Chattanooga, TN, and was close to his brother Lee and sister Anne. After graduating from the McCallie School, he joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and served in war zones in Europe. Sam was honorably discharged in 1946, and then earned a B.A. in Music from the College of Music in Cincinnati, OH.

Sam moved to New York City, and worked for Columbia Records as a music editor. In 1955, he left for Germany to pursue opportunities in opera. There he met Betty Golden, whom he married several years later. They raised their wonderful sons Bennett and Timothy in Englewood, NJ and Rye, NY.

Sam appeared on television as a founding member of Mitch Miller and his Gang, and toured Japan with the group in 1965. He earned a Master’s degree in Education and taught music in NY schools. He returned to CBS Masterworks as a producer, and won the Grammy award as producer of the Best Classical Album in 1983 for Glenn Gould’s recording of Bach’s The Goldberg Variations. Sam also had a modeling career and enjoyed performing in musical theatre.

The greatest joy of Sam’s life was his 53-year marriage to his beloved Betty Ann, who died just three months ago. Sam is survived by his sons, Bennett and Timothy, of whom he was so proud; Tim’s wife, Jennifer Murray; in-laws Edna and James Murphy and James and Anne Golden; nieces Kristen Golden and wife Barbara Findlen, Joanne (Golden) and husband John Quinn, Edna Murphy and husband David Howarth, Madeleine Murphy and husband Scott Bullerwell; nephews Roy, Rex, and Reed Carter, and Stephen Golden and wife Beth; grandchildren Dylan, Max, and Eliza; 13 grandnieces/nephews; and lifelong friends Chet and Vera Kalm, and Patsy McCarthy. The family would like to thank Mariana Luz, as well as the staff at CECA, for their loving care and devotion to Sam. 

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 31, at 11:30 a.m. at Grace Church, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.