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Epstein -- Samuel Atkins Epstein, 82, a resident of Albuquerque since 1948, died Friday, February 4, 2000. Sam was born in Philadelphia, PA on June 28, 1917 to Meyer and Kittie Epstein. He grew up in Longmeadow, MA along with his sister, Mildred Epstein Greene. After graduating from high school, Sam went to Swarthmore College where he was very active as a reporter for the college newspaper, the Phoenix and also served as a member of the school newspaper board that wrote articles for papers such as the Philadelphia Inquirer and occasionally the New York Times. One of Sam's fondest memories of this period was the time he helped to host Albert Einstein, who had come to visit the Swarthmore campus. After college, Sam worked as a reporter for a small newspaper in Raritan, NJ. After Peal Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was eventually stationed in Albuquerque where he met Wanda Seligman, a native of Albuquerque and they were married in 1942. After the war and a brief stint of living in Springfield, MA, Sam and Wanda and their new baby, Ralph, moved back to Albuquerque. There, Sam, along with his brother-in-law, Irving Seligman, established the ZIP Potato Chip Company in 1949, and built the first mechanized potato chip factory in New Mexico. Sam sold the business after more than 15 years of successful operation and became a sales representative of the H.D. Lee Company until his retirement. Sam was very active in Congregation Albert, serving as president of the congregation and was an active member and officer of the Temple's Men's Club. Among his great joys was his weekly gin rummy game with a group of close and dear friends for over 40 years. Sam is survived by his children, Ralph Epstein and wife, Pam of San Anselmo, CA, Ellen Abel and husband, Patrick of Albuquerque, Gerald Epstein and wife, Fran Deutsch of Northampton, MA; nephew, Steven Greene of Short Hills, NJ. Sam is also survived by his grandchildren, Jennifer and Heather Epstein, Matt and Marshall Lammers, Heidi Lammers Wake, Brian and Jeff Abel, Eli Epstein-Deutsch; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Alexandra and Elizabeth Garcia; a very close and special friend, and her family. Services will be held at Congregation Albert at 12:00 noon, Monday, February 7, 2000 with Rabbi Joseph Black and Cantor Jacqueline Shuchat-Marx officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Congregation Albert section. Contributions may be made to Congregation Albert or Congregation B'nai Israel pre-schools. French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE.
        Published on: Sun February 06, 2000