William James Sammis

William James Sammis, 73, passed away at his home on Tuesday, July 4, after 6 years of living with Alzheimer's.  Bill was born in Queens, NYC on May 29, 1950, and grew up in College Point, Queens. He earned a BS in math from Manhattan College and an MA in educational administration from Columbia University. In 1974, Bill and his wife Terry moved to New Hampshire and have made their home in Rochester ever since. Bill worked at UNH in Computer Services for many years, and then worked at the Monarch School in Rochester as handyman and woodworking teacher until his retirement in 2015. Besides building by himself most of the Sammis' house, Bill tended extensive gardens of flowers and vegetables and installed a goldfish pond. The pond's numerous fish and annual bullfrogs, its pure-white pond lilies, and its quiet water sounds, made a lovely peaceful corner of nature for family and guests. Bill also spent many hours in his well-equipped workshop, crafting furniture - mostly in simple Shaker style. He...