Samuel Beidleman Dilcer, Jr. of Brookfield passed away on Tuesday August 25, 2020 at Dartmouth Hitchcock medical center at the age of 89. Born August 21, 1931 in Philadelphia, PA, Sam was the only child of Samuel and Maud Dilcer Sr., later of Trucksville, PA. He received a degree from Wilkes College in 1957 and an MBA from Wilmington College in 1979. During his career as a chemist, he worked with water treatment chemicals inspecting boilers throughout the United States, South and Central Americas, Middle East and South Asia. On July 25, 1964 he married Mary Ellen Farnham in Tunbridge, Vermont. Together with his wife, Sam supported their 3 children in all aspects of their lives, rarely missing a sporting event or school concert. Family was everything to Sam, all other things were second.
Sam was a Pennsylvania Freemason for over 60 years, and a concurrent member of the Brookfield Lodge for over 15 years. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he was the third generation to serve in a masonic lodge. He was always very active in the community, as a volunteer member of the National Ski Patrol for over 40 years, as a church member, a boy scout and explorer post leader, adult supervisor in youth group mission trips, and frequent school marching band chaperone – traveling to the World Expo in Spain in 1992.
Sam had a life-long love of learning and passion for all hobbies and the outdoors, especially woodworking and carving, cooking, reading, gardening, fly fishing, hunting, and skiing. Family vacations involved camping and canoeing. In more recent years, Sam could be found whittling in Floral Hall at the Tunbridge World’s Fair or watching Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey at Norwich University where he and Mary Ellen were season ticket holders.
Sam is remembered fondly as a great talker and story teller with a wonderful sense of humor, as well as being very practical and full of wisdom. His glass was half full and his first thought when things were challenging was, “it could always be worse”. He was a man with a strong faith in God, standing by his family during times of need and never ceasing to offer his assistance and support to anyone who asked.
Samuel B. Dilcer, Jr was a loving and caring person, full of faith and compassion, kind and generous with his time and efforts, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, he was the best anyone could ask for. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Ellen of 56 years and their children: Erica, Samuel (wife Michele), and Christianna Farrell (husband Steve) and six cherished grandchildren: Matthew and Ryan Dilcer; Stephen, Trevor, Melanie and Kelly Farrell; as well as many cousins.