David Carl Sampson

Dedicated husband and father, educator and community builder.

David Carl Sampson, 79, formerly of Williamsville, New York, and most recently of Venice, Florida, died Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Venice. He was surrounded by his family.

David Sampson was born in Aurora, Illinois, to the late Thomas and Ruth (Scott) Sampson. Because of his father’s military service, he attended schools across the United States before graduating from Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York. As a high school student, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and secondary education from the State University of New York at Oswego and a master’s degree in education administration and curriculum development from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

A career educator, he taught middle and high school in the Maryvale School District in Cheektowaga, New York. He was a building principal at Pembroke Jr./Sr. High School in Corfu and Mill and Heim middle schools in Williamsville, and an instructor at Buffalo State College. During his career in education, he served as president of the Maryvale teachers’ union in the early 1980s. In the 1990s and 2000s, he became a sought-after expert in middle school master scheduling, traveling as a consultant throughout New York State.

David Sampson was a member of Hiram Masonic Lodge No.105, Cheektowaga, where he was raised and served as its youngest Master of the Lodge in 1983. Freemasonry was important to him, and his membership continued a 100-year tradition among members of the Sampson and Scott families. He was a 32nd Degree Master Mason and belonged to Ismailia Shriners; Germania Royal Arch (Gateway) Chapter; Knights Templar, Commandery No. 20; and the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. In 2002, he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the Erie District for the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York.

In 2001, David Sampson was appointed chairman of the New York State Grand Lodge Committee for the National Masonic Foundation for Children. In this role, he developed and promoted the Masonic Model Student Assistance Program, which trained educators to better identify and assist at-risk students.

After moving to Venice in 2003, David Sampson volunteered as a guardian ad litem for the Sarasota County courts, prepared taxes through the local AARP program, and volunteered with Agape Flights. He served as president of the Newcomers of Venice Association, the NOVA Alumni Association, and Grassy Oaks III Homeowners Association.

As a student at SUNY Oswego, David Sampson met Marcia Kieffer, whom he married in 1970. They recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. They made their homes in Cheektowaga and Williamsville, suburbs of Buffalo, New York, where they raised their children, Karen (Kurt) Hoffman, Margaret (Steven) Hargrove and Thomas Sampson.

He is survived by his brother, Vince (Jane) Jones of Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom, and sisters Holly Molina of Aurora, Illinois, and Jan Sampson (Patrick O’Malley) of Loudon, Tennessee. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, John Sampson of Venice, Florida. He is survived by grandchildren Steven (Sharon) Hargrove, Brittney (Matthew) Joy, Grace, Caiden, and Maxwell Hargrove; and T. William, Kyle, and Olivia Sampson; three great-grandchildren; and 11 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 24, at 9 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 400 Field Ave. E., Venice, FL, 34285. A service of celebration and remembrance for David Sampson will begin at Grace United Methodist at 10 a.m.

The family asks that those wishing to do so make a donation to Shriners Children's Hospital of Erie, Pennsylvania, 1645 West 8th St., Erie, PA, 16505, at www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/erie or http://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/give/725040#!/donation/checkout; or an organization of their choice.