Sammie Nathan

September 5, 1946 - February 14, 2023

Sammie June Nathan passed away on February 14, 2023.

Sammie was born to Sam Sappington and Mary Simmons in Houston, Texas, on September 5, 1946. Sammie grew up between Houston and Port Lavaca, Texas. She then attended the University of Houston and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1967.

Shortly after graduation, Sammie moved to Southern California as a project manager, developing jet fuel for Lockheed Martin.

In 1971 Sammie and a friend were skiing at Lake Tahoe, California, when she met her future husband, Dr. Paul Nathan. They married in 1975. Also, in 1975 Sammie opened by appointment only the S. Nathan Gallery on Union Street in San Francisco. The gallery brokered sales in 16th to 18th Century European artwork. She was also recognized as a leading expert in Georgian silver from the reign of George III.

During the 1970s and ‘80s, Sammie worked with England’s Royal Family procuring lost pieces of artwork and silver for the Royal Family. As a result, she was a guest of Queen Elizabeth at Royal Ascot. At the same time, Sammie was an organizer and sponsor of continuing education for the San Francisco and California Dental Society with trips to

Aspen, Vail, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The dental society trips she helped organize to Africa were also part of a delegation performing periodontal surgery in underserved communities.

Then, in 1977, Sammie gave birth to their son, Paul H. Nathan, IV. Her disdain for unfairness inspired her son to become a trial lawyer fighting for people against injustice.

After that, Sammie managed her husband’s periodontal practice and traveled extensively in Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and Asia.

She will be best remembered for her loyalty to her friends and family, her strong moral compass to stand for what she believed, and say what everyone else was thinking but was too afraid to say. In addition,

Sammie loved good food, cooking, and rescuing stray dogs and cats.

She was an avid sailor sailing with her family throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean and enjoyed rooting for John McEnroe and his antics during the TransAmerica Tennis Tournament.

Sammie was a member of the Metropolitan Club, the Pebble Beach Beach Club, a past patron of the SF Opera, and a founding board member of WAIF. This charity placed foster children with permanent families.

Later in life, Sammie spent her time between her San Francisco and Pebble Beach homes.

Sammie is survived by her husband, Dr. Paul H. Nathan III; her son, Paul H. Nathan IV, granddaughter Marguerite “Maggie” Pepina

Nathan, and daughter-in-law, Caroline Nathan; her sister, Joyce Keeble; and many nieces and nephews.

Per her wishes, Sammie June Nathan will be remembered at a private memorial service followed by a dry-aged steak dinner paired with 1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. At Sammie’s request, donations may be made in her memory to the Neigh Savers Foundation Horse Rescue at https://neighsavers.org/get-involved/ donate-2/.