It is with heavy hearts that the family of Samuel George Baroody Jr., DDS, of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, announces his passing on Saturday, August 1, 2026. Sam is survived by his four daughters, Ann-Mitchell B. Farleigh (T.K.), Julia B. Urena (Gilles), Rebecca B. Bertotti (John), and Elizabeth B. Baroody. He will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Ashton, Kirkland, and Peyton Farleigh; Emmanuel and Olivia Urena; Jackson Bertotti, and Ronan Boss. He is also survived by his sister, Linda B. Schade. He was preceded in death by brother, The Honorable David S. Baroody.
Born on December 1, 1935, in Timmonsville, South Carolina, to Samuel George and Najla Matney Baroody, Sam grew up surrounded by a close-knit Lebanese community where relatives, lifelong friends, and neighbors were often regarded as one extended family. As the oldest of three children, he developed a strong sense of responsibility, a steadfast work ethic, and pride in his Lebanese heritage that stayed with him throughout his life.
After graduating from The Citadel in 1957, where he proudly served as a Bugle Master of the Regimental Band, Sam was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His active duty was deferred so he could continue his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later at the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1962.
He went on to serve three years as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, before being honorably discharged and moving his young family to Richmond, Virginia. There, he built a respected dental practice that spanned three decades while also serving as an adjunct faculty member at the VCU School of Dentistry. He was an active member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, the Richmond Dental Society, the Richmond Jaycees, and Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church.
Those who knew Sam best will remember much more than his professional accomplishments. He had an infectious enthusiasm for life and a curiosity that never faded. An exceptional golfer, he was a member of The Foundry Golf Club and a charter member of Salisbury Country Club, in Richmond, where he served as Golf Director from 1980 to 1982. In retirement, he continued to enjoy playing as a member of the Surf Golf & Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach.
Music was another lifelong interest. In addition to his years in The Citadel’s Regimental Band, he later learned to play the twelve-string guitar and, in his 60s, decided to pick up the banjo simply for the joy of mastering something new.
Sam felt most at home outdoors. Whether sailing, fishing, bird hunting with his dogs, or simply taking in the beauty of the Carolina coast, he found peace in nature. Family Thanksgivings were often made even more memorable with quail and smoked wild turkey from his hunts. Christmas also brought a familiar gift from Sam – an L.L. Bean flannel shirt for each of his sons-in-law. Over the years, they amassed quite a collection, one that will always remind them of him.
Perhaps Sam’s greatest gift was the ease with which he connected with others. His warmth, kindness and genuine interest in people made everyone feel welcome, and he had a remarkable ability to form lasting relationships wherever he went. He naturally earned the respect of those around him through the way he carried himself and treated others.
We will forever remember our father sitting on his back deck, watching magnificent sunsets or the changing tides of the saltwater creek with an afternoon glass of single malt Scotch in hand, content to take in the beauty around him. Those moments reflected the way he lived – with gratitude, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.
A private family service will be held at a later date at the Citadel where his remains will be interred alongside those of his brother’s in the Columbarium at the Thomas Dry Howie Memorial Bell Tower.
The family is especially grateful to Jeri Cross for the exceptional care and kindness she provided. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Samuel G. Baroody Jr. ’57 and R. Roy Pearce Citadel Scholarship Fund, the American Red Cross, or the National Kidney Foundation.