S. Samuel Nukes

After a long and fulfilling life, Sotir Samuel Nukes , beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on June 9, 2024, at the age of 96. He was surrounded by his devoted and caring wife, Mary Alice, and his loving family when he passed peacefully. He was respected and loved by everyone who met him. He was an attorney, a scholar, and an historian. He was an avid reader and a lover of the Arts. He was legend.

Sam was born in Akron on August 31, 1927, to Theodore and Emilia Nukes, both immigrants from Albania. At the age of 9, he went to live with his grandparents in Albania for 3 years. When he returned, he attended Grace Elementary school and worked after school at a corner grocery store. At the age 14, he built his own soap box derby car from scraps he found in the neighborhood and entered in the competition at Derby Downs. He attended West High school but interrupted his education to enlist in the United States Navy when he turned 17. During WWII, Sam served as a seaman at the Naval Operating Base at Adak in the Aleutian Islands and was attached to the Marine detachment there. He was discharged in1946 and enlisted in the Naval Reserve. Upon returning to civilian life, he attended the University of Akron, majoring in History. While at the University, he was ordered to duty during the Korean War. He was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve and enrolled in the Newport Rhode Island Naval Officer School. Upon returning to active duty in 1951, he served as an Assistance Gunnery Officer on the USS Currituck, a seaplane tender. He was promoted and transferred to the USS LST 533 of the Atlantic Amphibious Warfare fleet serving various positions as its First Lieutenant.

After separating from the Navy, Sam entered law school at Case Western Reserve University, graduating in 1956. While at Case, he met the love of his life, Mary Alice. They were married for 67 years.

Sam entered the private practice of law in Akron as an individual practitioner and grew his practice to 10 attorneys. He was respected in the legal profession as an honest and reputable trial lawyer - A lawyer’s lawyer. His trial abilities attracted national attention and in 1984, he was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. In the same year, Sam was elected President of the Akron Bar Association. While serving as President, Sam established the sections in the bar and reorganized the Akron Bar Foundation to its present form. He served 2 terms as the Foundation’s President. He was recognized by the Akron Bar for his professionalism, honesty, and integrity and in 1997 was the 2nd member to receive the Akron Bar Association Professionalism Award. He was also an adjunct professor at the University of Akron Law School where he lectured on trial advocacy. He often provided Pro Bono legal and financial assistance for clients, friends, and others in need. He was one of the founding members of the Scanlon Inn of Court. Sam was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the U.S. Federal District Court of the Ninth District.

Sam was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church serving as a board member for many years in the 1960’s. He was extremely proud of his Albanian heritage and was a mentor to numerous Albanian families who had immigrated to Akron. He unselfishly cared for and help them adjust to the American way of life. Sam was positive and personable to everyone he met. He always had a smile and a kind word to say.

Sam and Mary Alice loved to travel having visited Greece, Italy, Turkey, and London. Sam was an avid reader, often reading 2 books at a time – one at home and one at the office - and he amassed a library of over 1500 books, mostly Classical Greek, Roman, Albanian, and Biblical history. He loved going to the Ohio Light Opera, Blossom Music Center, and various local theaters with Mary Alice. Music was in his blood, and he loved classical as well as operatic performances.

Sam was a 32nd degree mason and a member of the Adoniram Lodge #517 as well as the Araba Lodge of Perfection.

In 2011, he was honored by attending the WWII Honor Flight to Washington DC to view the WWII and other national memorials.

Sam’s greatest pleasures always came from his family. His loving and devoted wife, Mary Alice, always strongly stood by him in his greatest challenges and was always a great comfort to him. He was a proud and devoted father to his son, Ted, and his daughter, Lissa, who returned his love 1000-fold. His most precious moments were spent with his 2 grandsons - his “best buddies'' - Anthony and Sammy who loved him immensely.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Emilia Nukes and his uncle, Vangely Nuke. He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Alice, his son, Theodore Nukes, his daughter, Elizabeth Nukes Vitale (Joseph) and his grandsons, Anthony Vitale and Sammy Vitale.

The family would like to thank Flora and Andrew for their kind and compassionate care of Sam.

Sam’s legacy of love, kindness, generosity, and integrity will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege to know him.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 11:00 am at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 S Union St, Akron, OH 44304. The family will receive friends and family at the church at 10 a.m., immediately preceding the service. A private burial in Cleveland will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests tributes be made in Memory of S. Samuel Nukes to the Akron Bar Association Scholarship Fund , 57 S. Broadway St., Akron, Ohio 44308 or The Annunciation Scholarship Fund, c/o Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church , 129 South Union Street, Akron, Ohio 44304.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road, Akron, OH  44333.