Who was Samantha Woll?
Samantha “Sam” Woll (1983-2023) tragically died on October 21, 2023 in Detroit, MI. She was the cherished daughter of Drs. Margo and Douglas Woll, dearest sister to Drs. Monica Woll Rosen and brother-in-law Ben, and beloved aunt to Solomon, Gabriel (Gavi), and Mira.
She was born and raised in Metro Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan. While Sam was a traveler and loved to explore the world, she spent her life in and around the Detroit area. There was no one who loved the city of Detroit more. She was fiercely passionate about the cultural vibrancy of Detroit, including the visual arts. At heart, Samantha was an artist and a lover of all forms of art. She appreciated music, theater, opera, museums and frequently sought to bring artists of all kinds together in unique ways. She loved being outside and nature was her happy place, whether she was exploring a new park or being out in the mountains on a hiking trail.
She was heavily involved in local, state, and national politics, serving on the campaigns of Elissa Slotkin (U.S. Representative), Dana Nessel (Michigan Attorney General), and Stephanie Chang (State Senator). Most recently, she served as president of The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, a revitalized congregation in the heart of Detroit and helped lead its fundraising campaign and “grand re-opening”. She was involved with many interfaith organizations in the Detroit area and was the embodiment of “tikkun olum” – making the world a better place and pursuing justice for all.
Most importantly, Samantha was a ray of sunshine to all who knew her. She was the light in any room because of her beautiful smile and her warmth. To her family, she was “Aunt Sam”: always present in all the right ways, being a source of comfort, love and joy for her niece and nephews. To her friends, she was “Sam”: the greatest friend anyone could ever hope to have in life because she was unfailing in her commitment to living in the moment and always saw the good in everyone she met. She had unbridled joy and an infectious laugh. She had the most incredible compassion. Most importantly, she lived to love and loved to live.
Samantha will always be remembered for her tireless activism and for her passion to make the world a better place. She was an angel and there was truly no one kinder.
She was born and raised in Metro Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan. While Sam was a traveler and loved to explore the world, she spent her life in and around the Detroit area. There was no one who loved the city of Detroit more. She was fiercely passionate about the cultural vibrancy of Detroit, including the visual arts. At heart, Samantha was an artist and a lover of all forms of art. She appreciated music, theater, opera, museums and frequently sought to bring artists of all kinds together in unique ways. She loved being outside and nature was her happy place, whether she was exploring a new park or being out in the mountains on a hiking trail.
She was heavily involved in local, state, and national politics, serving on the campaigns of Elissa Slotkin (U.S. Representative), Dana Nessel (Michigan Attorney General), and Stephanie Chang (State Senator). Most recently, she served as president of The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, a revitalized congregation in the heart of Detroit and helped lead its fundraising campaign and “grand re-opening”. She was involved with many interfaith organizations in the Detroit area and was the embodiment of “tikkun olum” – making the world a better place and pursuing justice for all.
Most importantly, Samantha was a ray of sunshine to all who knew her. She was the light in any room because of her beautiful smile and her warmth. To her family, she was “Aunt Sam”: always present in all the right ways, being a source of comfort, love and joy for her niece and nephews. To her friends, she was “Sam”: the greatest friend anyone could ever hope to have in life because she was unfailing in her commitment to living in the moment and always saw the good in everyone she met. She had unbridled joy and an infectious laugh. She had the most incredible compassion. Most importantly, she lived to love and loved to live.
Samantha will always be remembered for her tireless activism and for her passion to make the world a better place. She was an angel and there was truly no one kinder.
Links to articles about Sam:
