Susan “Sam” Jones Former ….

Susan “Sam” Jones

Former Leisure World resident Susan “Sam” Jones died Jan. 17 at the age of 85. Susan was her given name, Sam was her stage name. Born in New York City, she received her bachelor’s from Fordham University and later became a certified public accountant. But her true love was the theater. She attended Broadway Shows whenever possible.

In 1971, she relocated to Southern California with her young daughter Susan. Although a working single mother, she found ways to carve out time to participate in amateur and semi-pro acting groups.

Sam, as most of her cohorts here at Leisure World knew her, worked with a theater group in San Pedro known as Little Fish. She was also an integral part of a volunteer group known as the Long Beach Primetime Players made up of senior adults who entertained other senior adults in senior centers and nursing homes around the city.

She moved to Leisure World in 2007 where she founded the Producers Club, then went on to present comedy-murder-mystery plays in Leisure World every year for nine years, almost all produced and acted in by Sam and the local talent. She was also a member of the improv group known as Enter Laughing and its successor, Make ‘Em Laugh and of the Leisure World Theater Club which she served as treasurer for a number of years.

As a CPA, year after year she volunteered in the Golden Age Foundation free program to help Leisure Worlders file their income tax.

Her passing was peaceful with her daughter Susan at her side. She is also survived by Susan’s husband, Ken, nieces Ronnie and Karen and nephew John.