January 27, 1942 – April 6, 2023

Samuel Strong Spaulding, Jr, affectionately known as Sam or Kimmy, was born in Buffalo, NY on January 27, 1942 to Samuel Strong Spaulding, Sr. and Nel Bullard. Sam spent most of his life in the Washington DC area.

Sam had eight amazing grandchildren and four outstanding children: Stephen Shumway Spaulding, Katharine Price Madison, Christopher Jon Spaulding, and Joseph Ian Spaulding. Sam met and married Marie Baker 32 years ago. Marie changed him for the better. Largely through Marie's influence, Sam became a cat lover, jazz enthusiast, world traveler and a Democrat.

Sam was in the Navy and retired honorably from the US Navy Reserves after 20 years. He loved people and was a true extravert. He would engage in conversation with anyone, anywhere. Sam also loved cars and specifically Land Rovers. Combining these two passions, he worked at Land Rover where he was a Gold Certified Sales Guide. Sam retired in 2016 after 19 years at Land Rover. Soon after, he drove down to Florida to attend the Washington Nationals Spring Training to see if they needed another player.

Sam and Marie travelled the world and especially enjoyed their annual trip to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. They visited India, France, Italy, Vietnam, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.

Sam and Marie almost got eaten by a Crocodile when their canoe capsized in the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. When Sam was not fighting off crocodiles, he read the paper to keep up with the Washington Nationals and the Capitals as well as the crazy things that the Republicans had done the day before.

Sam was always a positive and engaging person. We will miss him.