Samuel B. Feitelberg, 93, founder of the Center for Health Sciences and
Professor Emeritus at Clarkson University, passed away on the night of March
16, 2023 with his family by his side in Vermont.
Sam was born in the Bronx, New York in the shadow of Yankee Stadium. He
graduated from Alfred University with a B.S. and a M.S. in Ceramic
Engineering and received a M.B.A. from SUNY at Buffalo. In 1952 Sam earned
a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University, a Certificate of
Physical Therapy from Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1953
and a Masters of Arts from Columbia University Teachers College in 1954.
Sam holds a Certificate of Labor Administration from the Harvard University
Graduate School of Business (1980) and an honorary Doctorate of Science
degree from Utica College (2015).
From 1954 to 1956, Sam served in the U.S. Army Medical Specialist Corps
assigned to Walter Reed Army Hospital as a staff physical therapist. It was
there he was inspired to help move physical therapy into its own
professional realm. Discharged in the midst of the polio epidemic, he
returned to The Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center as its Chief Pediatric
Physical Therapist. He began his academic career in 1959 as an instructor in
the Physical Therapy Program at Columbia University. In 1965-1970 he was
chairman of Physical Therapy at Downstate Medical Center, SUNY Brooklyn. He
then went on to establish and direct two schools of Physical Therapy: The
University of Vermont in Burlington (1969-1996) and created the Center for
Health Sciences within the School of Arts and Sciences at Clarkson
University in Potsdam, New York (1997-2011). He was awarded the title of
Professor Emeritus at the University of Vermont (1996) and Clarkson
University (2011). His work lives on in the Samuel B. Feitelberg Endowed
Scholarship established by Clarkson University to benefit a physical therapy
student who shares his commitment for service and advocacy for underserved
or culturally diverse populations.
Sam was an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association since
1953. He received the Association’s highest honors being named a Catherine
Worthingham Fellow (1997) and being awarded the Lucy Blair Service Award
(1983), Vermont Chapter Distinguished Service Award (1990, 1997) and the
Diversity Award (1996).
Following his time at Clarkson University, Sam worked in conjunction with
Rotary’s Hands To Honduras to establish the Oscar Edgardo Pineda Castro
Rehabilitation Center for children in Tela, Honduras. For over 16 years Sam
was inspired and forever grateful to the wonderful staff and patients in
Tela and to all those that traveled and supported the center and its
mission. In 2007 he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the
Shelburne-Charlotte-Hinesburg Rotary Club. Sam was a devoted Rotarian and
treasured the many friendships he made within his Chapter.
Sam was fortunate to spend almost 70 years with the love of his life, his
wife Gail and their 4 children, Cher, Debbie (Poulin) and son-in-law Tony,
Lisa (Davison) and son-in-law Mark and son Michael and daughter-in-law Dana.
Sam’s grandchildren, Kyle Coulam, Adam, Jordan and Sophie Davison, Daniel
Feitelberg, along with Lena Biggs, Shane and Shannon Poulin were an endless
source of pride for all they have accomplished and the wonderful people they
have become. The family will forever miss his wonderful stories, lessons,
sense of humor and unconditional love.
Visiting hours will be at the Ready Funeral Home.
261 Shelburne Rd, Burlington, VT
on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 4:00 – 6:00PM.
A celebration of Sam’s life will take place later this spring.
*In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Sam with a donation to: *
Samuel B. Feitelberg Physical Therapy Endowment Scholarship
Clarkson University
8 Clarkson Ave.
Potsdam, New York 13699
