Sam D. Kocsis, member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, passed away at his home in Wolverine Lake on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at 93. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he attended Redford High where he was a star on the golf team. He graduated from the University of Detroit (where he won the NCAA Championship), and served in the U.S. Army Air Force toward the end of World War II. He was married to Irene Virginia Kocsis (nee Berent) who preceded him in death by three years, and together they lived with their family in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan for over 30 years where they attended St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church. He is survived by seven children, six grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.
He was a lifelong member of Atlas Valley Country Club (Grand Blanc), and part of the famed Kocsis golfing family. He is the only Michigan resident to win the USGA Public Links, and won the Western Junior Championship at the University of Michigan golf course, the Tri-State Championship twice, the Michigan Amateur Championship in Charlevoix, the NCAA Tournament, and the Michigan Senior Open. He holds the course record at several courses in the Midwest region. He was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame on his birthday, August 23, in 1987.
A classic of “the Greatest Generation,” from humble Hungarian immigrant roots, he worked in steel and tool-and-die manufacturing (he owned the Sam D. Kocsis Foundry and worked in sales for Kurtz Steel) serving the American auto industry for over three decades. He was known for his distinctive and understated sense of humor, extraordinary generosity, demanding standards, and intense loyalty to his family. He described his happiest moments as being surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
His children, Paula Campbell (Dennis), David (Eeva), Colleen Collier (Larry), Mary Beth (Brad Allan), Patricia, Francine, and Susanne (Lee Berry); and his grandchildren, Jenifer Robb (Brett), Christopher Collier (Stephanie), Ruth Kocsis, Max Berry, Karl and Sam Allan; and great granddaughter, Alexis Collier, will miss him deeply, but share in an abundance of memories of laughter, joy, and a life well lived.
Sam enjoyed his very long life to the fullest, and loved two things above all: his beautiful wife Irene, and being out on the links on a sunny summer day.
A private visitation for the family will be held on Monday, February 25, from 3-4pm, and a visitation open to friends and the public will be held from 4-9pm at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home at 340 N. Pontiac Trail in Walled Lake, Michigan. Another visitation will take place before the funeral on Tuesday, February 26 from 10-11am, and the funeral service will be held from 11am-12 noon at the same location. After the funeral service a burial prayer will be held at 1:30pm at Christian Memorial Cemetery at 521 Hamlin Road in Rochester, Michigan. Lunch will follow.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Fund by mail at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or online at www.stjude.org
