Earl Delos Sampson

Earl Sampson, retired Professor of Russian Language and Literature at the University of Colorado-Boulder, died recently at his home in Boulder. He was 83 years old. Earl was a 60-year Boulder resident and 4th generation Coloradoan whose maternal ancestors came to Boulder County in the middle of the 19th century to mine silver in Caribou, Colorado. Earl was born in Rifle, Colorado on January 26, 1935, the son of Charles Earl Sampson and Effie Marie Harvey Sampson. He graduated from Rifle Union High School in 1952 and went on to study engineering at CU, a field he didn’t much like. He found his true calling when drafted into the Army and sent to the Monterey Army Language School (now called the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center) where he discovered a rare knack and passion for Russian language, which he pursued, culminating in a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University in 1968. He was a member of the professorial staff at the University of Colorado from 1963 to 1994.

His love of Russian was eclipsed by his love and devotion for his wife, Eleni (nee Callas), with whom he traveled the world for decades. Their shared dedication to scholarship, teaching, family, love of animals and travel made for an uncommonly tender bond. The vivacious Eleni loved stories and jokes, but always turned to the more taciturn Earl to quote the punchline properly. Her love for him was repaid over the 25 years of her increasing incapacity from multiple sclerosis. Earl’s devotion and care took an enormous personal toll, but the high quality of Eleni’s life was sustained to the very end.

Earl’s devotion to scholarship was legendary—a book and later a Kindle were always near at hand. In addition to scholarly articles and presentations, Earl wrote a critical biographical study of Nikolai Gumilev, a leading Silver Age Russian poet, and translated Alexander Pushkin’s History of the Pugachev Rebellion from Russian. He was a lifelong student of Formalism and Acmeism—two rigorous schools of Russian intellectual thought and art. He had an enormous curiosity and knowledge of popular culture as well as the Classics.

Earl and Eleni both possessed an enormous commitment to animal rights and social justice. They served on the Board of the Humane Society and had a succession of dogs that were truly part of their family and not just ‘pets’.

Earl eagerly joined his wife’s Greek family and actively participated in Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox community in Boulder as Treasurer and other capacities. He likewise maintained a strong bond to his Sampson siblings. He is survived by his sister, Peggy Harrold, nephews Chuck and Bob Sampson, nephew Sherman Harrold, and niece Kathy Harrold Hickok, and their families. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother, Harvey, and sister-in-law Joan, his brother-in-law John Harrold, and his nephew, Brent Harrold. He was “Theo Earl” to his many nephews and nieces on the Callas side, including the five Taylor children, three Callas children, and the two Kelaidis children. He is also survived by three brothers-in-law: George Callas of California, and Panayioti Kelaidis and Allan Taylor of Colorado.

Gifts in Earl’s memory may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church, the Boulder Humane Society and the University of Colorado.

Services:

Trisagion Memorial Service - Sunday, July 22nd at 7:00 p.m.; Crist Mortuary 3395 Penrose Place in Boulder, 80301

Funeral Service - Monday, July 23rd at 11:00 at Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church; 5640 Jay Road in Boulder, 80301. Internment to follow at Green Mountain Cemetery (luncheon details TBA at the service)