Dr. Larry David Samuels, age 90, peacefully passed into the light on April 25, 2024, from heart failure, after only two days of hospice care in his St. Louis, Missouri home.  He leaves behind his wife of almost fifty years, Lucia Mannhard Samuels, his seven children – Shirley, Lawrence Keith, Nils, Rolf, Lisa, Joel and Maya, over eighteen grandchildren and great grandchildren and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.  

Larry was born Oct. 17, 1933 in Galesburg, Illinois to Arthur and Ruth Samuels of rural New Windsor, Illinois. Larry was a lifelong learner, beginning his education at a one room country school,  to town for high school, then Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois to study biology and chemistry, University of Illinois, Chicago for his medical degree, Harvard School of Public Health for his Masters Degree and work toward a Doctor of Science degree in Environmental Health. In 1973 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Blackburn College, where he also served on the Alumni Association and was again recognized  in 2018, placing him on their Science Wall of Honor. In 2002 Larry received a bachelor’s degree in Music and Pacific Studies from the University of Hawaii, Hilo. Larry was a pioneer in Pediatric Nuclear Medicine, establishing a clinical department at the Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio (1965-1972).  

He loved to travel and explored his Swedish ancestral roots, even spending a sabbatical year (1971) in Stockholm, Sweden. A major highlight of his life with Lucia was living in Israel from 1976-1981, where they had a renewal of their Christian faith and Larry was given the position of Associate Professor of Nuclear Medicine at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, a leading medical center for the Middle East. Israeli Prime Ministers Golda Meir and Menachem Begin were among his patients and during this time Larry initiated professional peacemaking exchanges between Israel and Egypt. On returning to the USA, Larry took up the position of Director of Nuclear Medicine at St. Louis University Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri from 1982-1990. After an early retirement Larry and Lucia moved to Hilo, Hawaii where they spent twenty five beautiful years, enjoying island life, supporting Hawaiian culture, making music, and volunteering in the community supporting the local schools, various music programs and the Imiloa Astronomy Center.  

Larry and Lucia settled back in St. Louis in 2019 to be near family and became involved in the musical, cultural and spiritual life of the greater community. Larry has gifted his body to St. Louis University School of Medicine to further their education and research. No immediate services will be conducted, however, various memorials will be held throughout the year to honor this brilliant, caring and faith-filled man. Messages of condolence can be sent to llsamuels@gmail.com. 

Special thanks to the communities of St. Francis Xavier (College Church), St. Catherine LaBoure, and Sts. Peter & Paul, Soulard, for all their prayerful support.