Roll Call Tribute

Samuel Taylor "Sam" Lanford 

January 6, 1928 - January 3, 2023 

Samuel T. Lanford, of Urbana, IL, passed away January 3, 2023. Sam was born in Blanket, TX and received his undergrad and master's degrees from Texas A&M University. 

Samuel was a professor in the UI School of Architecture, where he taught for almost 40 years, and was nicknamed "Smiling Sam." 

When Sam and Florence married, they agreed that they wanted to make travel a priority and lived in diverse places before settling in Urbana. They lived in New York City, Germany, Washington State, Texas and East Pakistan. They visited Napal, India, Japan, Cambodia, many European countries, Mexico, Alaska and Israel. They remained active in retirement with various retirement associations, writing, gardening, traveling, church and visiting friends and family. After over 50 years in the same house, they moved to the Windsor of Savoy in Champaign and completely enjoyed an active social life of sharing meals with friends, choir, field trips, Bible studies, concerts, a writing group and other activities. 

Sam is survived by their three adult children and their spouses: Cecelia and Michel Zandbergen, Les and Connie Lanford, and Missy and Ed Deregibus; 23 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Sam is survived by two living sisters, Ruth and Louise.