Sametz graduated from Brooklyn College in 1940, and received a master’s degree in economics from Princeton in 1942. He then served in the Navy until 1946, when he returned to Princeton to complete his doctoral studies. His Ph.D. was completed in 1951, after he had worked as an instructor in economics from 1948 to 1951. Sametz was then an assistant professor from 1951 to 1957, during which time he had received a bicentennial preceptorship, honoring young faculty members of high promise.
In 1957, Sametz became an associate professor at NYU, and in 1962 was promoted to full professor at its graduate school of business administration. There, he later became the long-term director of the Center for the Study of Financial Institutions. He was the author, co-author, or editor of more than 40 books, monographs, and journal articles on finance.
Sametz had been a board member of the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni, president of the Metropolitan Economic Association, and a director of the American Savings Bank.
He is survived by Agnes, his wife of 52 years; and two daughters.
Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.