Samuel Don Gindin was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 27, 1945 and died in Northampton, Massachusetts on February 17, 2026. He was 80 years old. 

In Hebrew, Sam’s name is transliterated as Shmu’el, in English “God Heard.” He was born to Anne (“Hana”) and Abraham (“Avraham”) Gindin. God Heard.

His youth was filled with music. At 2 years, he was swaying and singing along with his grandmother, Molly, while she sang the waltz from “The Merry Widow” to him on her lap. When the piano finally arrived, originally bought for his sister Ellen, at 5 years, Sam would pick out tunes that he heard on the radio, and create and play his own melodies. God Heard.

After a series of piano teachers (you don’t want to know), Sam moved to the French Horn as his instrument. In Junior High School, when he was accepted into the All Borough Symphonic Band, he worried because rehearsals fell on Saturday mornings, during shabbat services. He spoke to his rabbi, who responded, “when you play, you’ll play for Hashem.” God Heard.

He was the class musician, along with Murray Perahia, at the High School for Performing Arts in Manhattan, and was accepted at the Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, and at the Curtis Institute of Music for the following year, on scholarship, when a few more French Horn students graduated. He chose Curtis. God Heard.

After Curtis, he received a full scholarship to the Yale School of Music, which he called the “Yale School About Music,” claiming it more academic than artistic. This didn’t sit well with the administrators. He toured as 1st Horn in various major ballet orchestras, featuring Rudolph (Rudi) Nureyev, whom he befriended. Did they dance together? Maybe. God Heard.

He played in the Sao Paulo (Brazil) Symphony until he received news of his father’s imminent death and returned to Brooklyn. God Heard.

He conducted the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Symphonic Band (now, Queer Big Apple Corps) for 10 years, raising it to a musical level it hadn’t achieved until his direction. He played with the Brooklyn Brass Quintet, and finally, taught Music (“Music & Life,” as Sam called it) at the High School for Graphic Communication Arts until his retirement at 67. God Heard.

At 40 years old, in July of 1986, he met the man with whom he would spend the rest of life, Larry Picard. Together, they traveled, made music and lived their lives. Sam often said, “I wear the lampshade and Larry turns on the light.” God Heard.

At 75 years old, Sam was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and lived his best life painting, dancing, traveling, attending chamber and symphonic music concerts, and laughing with friends and family until his death. He was buried in Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst, MA with loving family and friends in attendance. His husband, Larry, his sister’s daughter, Meryl, her husband, John, grand-nephews Zev and Aidan, and numerous in-laws and friends, old and new, miss him dearly. To family, he was more than family; he was a friend. To friends, he felt like family. God Heard.

There will be a Memorial for Sam on June 13, 11:00 a.m. at North Hadley Congregational Church, 243 river Drive, North Hadley, MA. 01035 where we will review his life, listen to music, experience his “Samdances,” and pray, “Kinehora!”