logo logo logo logo

News / Obituaries / Southampton Press / 1449715

Samuel Bellows Gilpin III Of Shelter Island Dies

icon 1 Photo

author on May 20, 2019

Samuel Bellows Gilpin III, longtime resident of Sagaponack, died at home on Shelter Island, on March 16, 2019. Sandy, as he was known by his friends, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1927.

Mr. Gilpin graduated from the Haverford School in 1944 and Yale University in 1949. During his college years, and after, he served in the U.S. Navy as lieutenant junior grade in naval intelligence. He was president of Timothy Dwight College, sang in the Yale Glee Club and played squash and soccer. He served as a class agent from graduation until his death, earning the distinction of being the longest-serving class agent for Yale. An avid tennis and squash player, he won many club championships at the Yale Club in New York City and the Merion Cricket Club. He also loved to ski and dance.

After college, he went to work for Continental Can Company before founding Gilpin and Company, Inc. The packaging industry had him traveling around the world several times, forging lasting friendships with colleagues across the globe.

He was a member of his beloved Marble Collegiate Church, where he worshiped most Sundays and was a long-serving usher and greeter at the front door. He donated the funding to the church for first powerwashing of the structure, which dates back to the early 1600s, as well as for exterior lighting on the grounds.

Mr. Gilpin is survived by his spouse, Elizabeth “Lisa” M. Gilpin; daughter Marisa H. Gilpin of Clinton; son Luke H. Gilpin of Shelter Island; sister Ann Taylor of Pennsylvania; stepbrother W. Craig Heston of Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Gilpin residence on Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m. at 21 Smith Street, Shelter Island.

You May Also Like:

'Tea Talk' Topic Is Indigenous Art and Culture

Stony Brook Southampton’s FoodLab will welcome professor Joseph M. Pierce as the guest speaker for its next Tea Talk Tuesday on December 2 at 3:30 p.m. The event, which is open to the community, will focus on Indigenous art and culture. Pierce, an associate professor at Stony Brook University and founding director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative, is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He will discuss his new book, “Speculative Relations: Indigenous Worlding and Repair,” which will be available for purchase. According to a press release, the talk will invite attendees to “imagine Indigenous futures and ... 21 Nov 2025 by Staff Writer

Parade Committee Organizing Toy Drive

The Southampton Village Fourth of July Parade Committee’s annual holiday toy drive is underway and will continue through November 29. The community initiative aims to bring joy to children and offer support to local military families during the holiday season. Residents are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. Donations may be dropped off at Veterans Memorial Hall at 25 Pond Lane in Southampton, which will also serve as the site of Santa’s visit on November 29 following the Festival of Lights Parade. During that event, the committee will offer a free mug of chili to ... by Staff Writer

Turkey Trots Are on, Rain or Shine

The 49th Turkey Trots are to be held at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day at ... by Jack Graves

Doc Fest 'Hometown Heroes' Film Contest Winners Announced

Hamptons Doc Fest education director Anita Boyer has announced the winners of its second annual “Hometown Heroes” documentary short film competition, where middle and high school students on the East End were invited to create a documentary short film honoring the local everyday heroes who have made a significant impact on their lives or their local community. Jackson Rohrer took first place, earning a $300 scholarship. He is a junior at the Shelter Island School and his winning film is “The Lifeline of Shelter Island — Cliff Clark.” Second place and a $200 scholarship went to Springs School eighth-grader Francisco ... by Staff Writer

Turkey Trots Abound Across Hampton Bays, Westhampton and East Moriches

There may be no better way to start a day of feasting than with a ... by Drew Budd

Our Neighbors

There was a post that appeared on Facebook from 27east describing the anti-ICE demonstration in Westhampton Beach on Friday, November 14. Scrolling through the comments, I was horrified to see the worst of human nature in print. The video showed numerous people of various ages peacefully holding signs such as “Fire Ice,” “We were all Immigrants,” “Abolish ICE,” “ICE is un-American,” “ICE — Hands Off,” etc. However, the comments posted below the video denigrated the participants with the following: “One can only assume this was a AARP-organized event.” “The [assisted] living facilities in the area need somewhere for the residents ... by Staff Writer

Owed Full Truth

Congressman Nick LaLota’s latest newsletter suggests that either he thinks we, his constituents, are ignorant, or that he, our representative, is willfully ignoring and misrepresenting the public facts. First, contrary to his statement that he supports “expos[ing] the full [Epstein] network, protect victims, safeguard innocent people, and ensure justice is never weaponized,” prior to his vote to release the Epstein files held by the Department of Justice and FBI, he did not sign the discharge petition to get legislation onto the floor of the House. It was not until the president changed his tune on Sunday, November 16, and said ... by Staff Writer

Who's To Blame?

It is Ed Surgan [“Warped View,” Letters, November 20] who seems to have the warped view. He lays the blame for the level of illegal immigration in our country squarely with the Democrats, but there has not been a successfully passed immigration reform bill since the Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Attempts in 2007, 2013 and 2021 all failed to gain enough traction to pass, and the most recent bipartisan bill, in 2024, was killed by then-candidate Donald Trump. So, if there is a need to place blame at anyone’s door, that blame should ... by Staff Writer

Coat Drive Underway at Real Estate Offices

William Raveis Real Estate is holding its annual coat drive, which will continue through December 12. All coats will be distributed to those in need before the holidays. New or lightly used outer garments may be dropped at any William Raveis Real Estate office. On the South Fork, they are located at 46 Main Street, East Hampton; 2415 Main Street, Bridgehampton; 16 Hampton Road, Southampton; 72 Main Street, Westhampton Beach; and 1 Carl Fisher Plaza, Montauk. by Staff Writer

Workshop for Business Grants Being Offered at Library

A free workshop titled “Funding Your Vision: Grant Writing for Small Businesses” will be held at the John Jermain Library in Sag Harbor on Friday, December 5, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The session is designed for local entrepreneurs, solo founders and small teams who want to access funding opportunities with confidence. Participants will learn how to identify grants that fit their business, write compelling applications with clarity and impact, use AI tools to strengthen their storytelling, and build a consistent calendar for applying. The workshop leader, Barbara Jude Frerichs, also will share real-life examples from her own grant wins ... by Staff Writer