Sam Zoll Memorial -- A True Tribute To His Common Touch

Sam Zoll was remembered as a son of Salem, confidant of governors and senators, counselor to many elected and appointed officials, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all he met Sunday morning at the Auditorium.

Officials from all levels of government gathered from throughout the Commonwealth to remember and honor a man who accomplished much, but always remained .

All who attended conveyed a quiet dignity and respect worthy of a man who recognized the dignity of all he encountered. Each came for their own reason. Some were there to honor his many professional accomplishments. There were certainly a few who attended out of gratitude. Many were schoolmates or had worked alongside the Judge in one of the many stops along his career path.

The majority were probably like Deems Korumpas.

"I didn't really know him all that well. I would see him at the and shined his shoes a few times when I was a kid."  Like all who met Judge Zoll, small moments over the years accumulated into a feeling of friendship for Korumpas. No one could touch your heart in friendship like Sam Zoll.  Korumpas' presence was testament to that ability.

The Judge selected all who spoke. He personally instructed them to keep their comments to three minutes or less. He would have been pleased with their efforts if not particularly with the results.

State Representative John Keenan, who considered the Judge a mentor, recalled the "legendary North Shore paper boy who took over the largest route in Salem as an 8-year-old boy." Later in Keenan's life, when he was in charge of overnight security at the , he remembered "being woken up by the sound of a splash in the pool." He grabbed a baseball bat and ran to investigate only to see the Judge beginning his morning laps. The hour of 4 a.m. was not too early for Sam Zoll to begin his day with a swim.

The Reverend Gail Berger spoke of the "unflattering, if not venomous nicknames that were assigned to the Judge by his riding mates from the Salem Cyclopaths, a local bicycle riding group. She also recalled his "affinity for bargains at Jerry's Army and Navy Store on Essex Street."

Justice Judith A. Cowin, Supreme Judicial Court (ret.) spoke of his influence in both her personal and professional life. She outlined his effort in the passing of Domestic Violence Act (Chapter 209, Massachusetts General Law). She closed her comments by saying: "he was a wonderful man and the world was a better place with him in it."

Reflections were provided by his longtime friend, Avram Hammer; his eldest son Barry Zoll; and his brother Michael Zoll.

The best tribute to Sam Zoll, leader, Judge and friend, was the fact that every seat in the house was occupied by a friend.