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Sam Haskins Obituary
Samuel Moody Haskins III died peacefully at home in San Francisco surrounded by his wife and three children on March 28, 2025. He was 91.
Sam was born in Hollywood, CA on February 25, 1934 to Sam Haskins, Jr. and Mary Stimson Haskins. He had an older sister, Maryanna, who preceded him in death in 2014.
The family moved from Pasadena to Sierra Madre in 1939 and lived there until 1956. Sam attended Sierra Madre Elementary School through the 8th grade and then to Flintridge Preparatory School, graduating in 1952. Sam attended University of Arizona, and graduated from UCLA in 1959, breaking his undergraduate years with a two-year stint in the Army during the Korean War. Married in 1961, Sam and his first wife Judy moved to San Francisco, where Sam attended Hastings Law School and graduated in 1966. They had three children and divorced in 1971.
In the early 1960s, Sam was a co-owner of the Drinking Gourd, a popular Union Street bar that established its place in local history for its early support of the San Francisco folk music scene.
Sam practiced law in San Francisco for the next two decades, specializing in tenant/landlord issues. He was also a Hearing Officer for the San Francisco Rent Board, and later for the Berkeley Rent Board.
In 1991, Sam married Mary Lou Ramsey in Virginia City, Nevada.
A lifelong surfer and avid photographer, Sam appreciated sunsets and moonrises - his passion created a Moon Calendar and Desert Calendar that he published from 1984-1995. Sam was also a published author, much of his poetry appearing regularly in the Marin County Pacific Sun magazine. His collected poems were published in a book in 2013.
Sam loved the Bay Area, and especially San Francisco. He lived in many different neighborhoods, including the Haight, Buena Vista, lower Hayes Valley, finally settling in the Mission. He and his wife found much joy in dining out in the city. They especially cherished a long delicious meal with family and friends - always an experience to remember for all.
In 1995, Sam and Mary Lou participated in the California AIDS Ride (now named AIDS/LIfe Cycle), a seven-day, 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, benefiting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Their family and friends donated a generous sum of money on their behalf.
After retiring, when he wasn't on the golf course, Sam delivered meals for Food Runners, an organization devoted to bringing excess perishable food from restaurants and other organizations and delivering it directly to neighborhood food programs.
Sam is survived by his wife, children Scott Haskins (Timmie), Eliza Koeppel (Michael), and John Haskins (Gala); grandchildren Amanda Koeppel, Olivia Koeppel, Jade Haskins, Lucia Haskins, and Ananda Haskins; stepchildren Ian Scott Ramsey (Isa) and Nicole Ramsey, and step grandchild Grayson Ramsey. A private family celebration will take place later this year. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Food Runners, foodrunners.org.
Sam was born in Hollywood, CA on February 25, 1934 to Sam Haskins, Jr. and Mary Stimson Haskins. He had an older sister, Maryanna, who preceded him in death in 2014.
The family moved from Pasadena to Sierra Madre in 1939 and lived there until 1956. Sam attended Sierra Madre Elementary School through the 8th grade and then to Flintridge Preparatory School, graduating in 1952. Sam attended University of Arizona, and graduated from UCLA in 1959, breaking his undergraduate years with a two-year stint in the Army during the Korean War. Married in 1961, Sam and his first wife Judy moved to San Francisco, where Sam attended Hastings Law School and graduated in 1966. They had three children and divorced in 1971.
In the early 1960s, Sam was a co-owner of the Drinking Gourd, a popular Union Street bar that established its place in local history for its early support of the San Francisco folk music scene.
Sam practiced law in San Francisco for the next two decades, specializing in tenant/landlord issues. He was also a Hearing Officer for the San Francisco Rent Board, and later for the Berkeley Rent Board.
In 1991, Sam married Mary Lou Ramsey in Virginia City, Nevada.
A lifelong surfer and avid photographer, Sam appreciated sunsets and moonrises - his passion created a Moon Calendar and Desert Calendar that he published from 1984-1995. Sam was also a published author, much of his poetry appearing regularly in the Marin County Pacific Sun magazine. His collected poems were published in a book in 2013.
Sam loved the Bay Area, and especially San Francisco. He lived in many different neighborhoods, including the Haight, Buena Vista, lower Hayes Valley, finally settling in the Mission. He and his wife found much joy in dining out in the city. They especially cherished a long delicious meal with family and friends - always an experience to remember for all.
In 1995, Sam and Mary Lou participated in the California AIDS Ride (now named AIDS/LIfe Cycle), a seven-day, 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, benefiting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Their family and friends donated a generous sum of money on their behalf.
After retiring, when he wasn't on the golf course, Sam delivered meals for Food Runners, an organization devoted to bringing excess perishable food from restaurants and other organizations and delivering it directly to neighborhood food programs.
Sam is survived by his wife, children Scott Haskins (Timmie), Eliza Koeppel (Michael), and John Haskins (Gala); grandchildren Amanda Koeppel, Olivia Koeppel, Jade Haskins, Lucia Haskins, and Ananda Haskins; stepchildren Ian Scott Ramsey (Isa) and Nicole Ramsey, and step grandchild Grayson Ramsey. A private family celebration will take place later this year. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Food Runners, foodrunners.org.
Published by The New Zealand Herald on May 9, 2025.
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