Virginia Samter Obituary

Samter, Virginia Svarz Born 1909, died June 24th, peacefully in her home of natural causes at the age of 95. She was a very special and loved person in the Chicago community. Married to Dr. Max Samter and living in Evanston, she was an active participant in the Arts Community (she was honored with Evanston's Award for the Arts just this year) and she was active in the civic community of Evanston. She was a member of the Women's Auxiliary at Evanston's Community Hospital and President of the Evanston's Art Center. An internationally renowned medical illustrator, her illustrations served as guides to surgeons developing complicated surgeries. Her transparencies of dissections of the human body and the human eye graced the World Book Encyclopedia. Later in life she became a sculptor working in various media from metal to wood to her signature, paper. She developed what she called "Forms" – large, hinged, mobile paper structures that she and her cohorts incorporated into dance. Virginia's love of sculpture developed out of a love of dance, and in these collaborations she was able to combine these loves. Even into her nineties she was active choreographing and creating and writing poetry. She mentored many artists in the area. Her husband Dr. Max Samter preceded her in death. She was the loving mother of Dr. Laurens Ackerman (Monika), Dr. Emily Gottlieb, and Dr. Virginia Barry, and the much loved grandmother of Marcus, Alexandra, Ben, Rachel, Sean, Justine and Max, and great grandmother of Michael, Caroline, John, Katie, and Lilly Diana. She is also survived by her dear friend Sandra Granados. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2005 at 2 PM at 645 Sheridan Road, Evanston. For Information, please call 847.864.9463. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to your favorite charity.