Sam Radelfinger

Sam Radelfinger, a dedicated public health professor known for his love of family, art, dogs, and nature, passed away peacefully in Healdsburg, California on April 15, 2024 at the age of 89.

Born in San Francisco, California on March 15, 1935, Sam was the beloved husband of Rita Scardaci for four decades. Together, they share five daughters and were blessed with 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, all of whom Sam cherished deeply.

Sam was committed to improving public health education and community health outcomes. He pursued his passion by teaching, researching, and working with communities in the field of public health, leaving a lasting impact on his students and colleagues.

After graduating from Stanford with a degree in Economics, he received his Master's degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley, and then returned to Stanford for a Doctorate in Education. In 1969, he joined the faculty of San Jose State University where he designed and implemented the curriculum for the Master's Degree in Public Health, served as department chair, and taught for nearly forty years.

Throughout his life, Sam served his community through many organizations, including the California Interagency Council on Family Planning, Society for Public Health Education, Santa Cruz AIDS Project, Hispanic/AIDS Community Coalition, Five County HIV Prevention Community Planning Committee, Department of Health Services State Office of AIDS, HIV Prevention Project, Planned Parenthood of Alameda-San Francisco, and Planned Parenthood of Santa Cruz.

He also served the global community with the Ford Foundation in Dhaka, Bangladesh, USAID in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the Peace Corps in Brazil and the Philippines.

In his retirement, he continued to teach at Sonoma State University and served on the Strategic Planning Committee of Healdsburg District Hospital and on the Board of the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County. His focus on community engagement and support for improving the health and wellbeing of the community remained a lifelong passion.

In his spare time, Sam found joy in the outdoors, sea kayaking, cooking, reading, composing Haiku, meditating, Tai Chi, and listening to music. He also enjoyed creating art: photographing and painting the landscapes and wildlife of Santa Cruz, Plumas, and Sonoma Counties. He took pride in the planning, cutting, and soldering of intricate stained glass pieces that drew inspiration from mythology and nature.

Sam's love for dogs was evident to all who knew him, and he was often seen with a faithful canine companion at his side: most recently, the Italian Spinone he called "Leonessa the Brave."

Sam will be remembered for his kind heart, unassuming demeanor, dry sense of humor, encyclopedic knowledge of fiction and non-fiction, his unwavering dedication to his family and profession, and his zest for life.

The family will gather in celebration of Sam's life later this summer. To honor Sam's memory, please consider donating to The Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County. www.HealthcareFoundation.net

Published in Healdsburg Tribune · May 28, 2024