Sam Henry Hastings
November 25, 1918 – May 9, 2014
Lake Shore’s beloved Sam Hastings died in the early hours of Friday morning, May 9, 2014, at the age of 95. What a gift he was to this church! He was a constant presence in worship and on Wednesday nights. Every day he showed us what it meant to live out the meaning of community and church ministry.
Sam joined Lake Shore in 1972 when he married Helen Hastings. Lake Shore members Roger and Penny Edens had introduced them. Already the father of three daughters, Sam suddenly had three more girls – Anne, Kay, and Jan Hamilton. He dedicated himself to caring for them and immersed himself in the life of the church, participating in “Penny’s musicals” in the early years and always enjoying his Supper Club.
Sam was ordained as a deacon at Lake Shore. Before he and Helen began sitting in the traditional spot on the “piano side” of the sanctuary, Sam sang in the choir and chaired the committee that called Richard Aslanian as Minister of Music. He and Helen were instrumental in making sure Lake Shore had chimes to call us to worship. Still inquisitive and engaged in church in 2009, he was the oldest member of the Appreciative Inquiry Committee when we identified the values and ministry of our church. For many Thursday nights for over fifteen years, Sam helped prepare and serve meals to our Family Self-Sufficiency group. He was a Care Group leader. He rarely missed a seminar.
Sam was Lake Shore’s renowned hot dog chef. No Bike-a-thon was complete without a stop by Sam’s grill for a hot dog or two or three. Every swim party at the Hastings’ home on Arroyo Road included hot dogs. For years Sam endeared himself to every child in the fourth-sixth grade Sunday School class he and Helen taught; at church, he was the essence of who a grandfather should be for several generations of children.
Sam . . . making banana pudding for Wednesday night supper. Sam . . . dressed as an angel alongside Roger Edens at the 40th anniversary. Sam . . . at the Christmas workshop every year, taking Polaroid pictures for ornaments. Sam . . . sitting by the front door after worship. These are some of the images that Lake Shore claims with gratitude for his long, good, and faithful life. We will miss him greatly and give thanks that we had the chance to know his love and love him.