Samuel T. Suratt ’55

Born Aug. 9, 1933, in Ridgewood, N.J., Sam came to Princeton from Ridgewood High School. He joined Tower and graduated with honors. His roommates were Peter Brown, Peter Van Gytenbeek, and John Snyder.

In 1965, he became archivist at the Smithsonian Institution with authority over all the archives of one of the oldest scientific research institutions in the country and the largest museum complex in the world. From 1969 to 1991, Sam was the archivist for CBS News, where he oversaw and managed the transformation of all CBS news-information resources to the computer age.

With his wife, Judy, Sam embodied the spirit of mentorship at the heart of Princeton Project 55 (now Princeton AlumniCorps). He was especially fond of introducing PP55 fellows to New York culture, including trips to the New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera. Sam delighted in providing sage professional advice and sharing his signature witticisms and incisive observations about history, art, broadcast journalism, and New York’s changing neighborhoods.

Sam died Oct. 27, 2014, of pancreatic cancer. He is survived by Judy; sons Benjamin and Daniel; four grandchildren; and his brother, William. Committed to Princeton AlumniCorps, Sam left an impact on the organization and the many fellows he mentored.