Honor Dr. Sam Pinn Jr.

Senate Resolution No. 3667 BY: Senator MONTGOMERY MOURNING the death of Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. co-Founder and Chairman of Fort Greene Council, Inc., and co-Founder and Director of Jazz966 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of New York; and WHEREAS, It is with feelings of great sorrow and deepest regret that this Legislative Body records the passing of Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. co-Founder and Chairman of Fort Greene Council, Inc., and co-Founder and Director of Jazz966; and WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, died on Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at the age of 82; and WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. was born to the late Samuel J. and Ethel (Crouch) Pinn in Rice, Virginia; after he and his family moved to New York State, he was a life-long resident of the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant; and WHEREAS, For eight years, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army Reserves; he was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant; and WHEREAS, A highly educated man, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Morgan State University, a Masters of Social Work Degree from Rutgers University, and two Doctors of Law degrees bestowed by Mary Holmes College and Morgan State University; he was also a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, In May of 1973, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. helped found and then served as Chairman of the Fort Greene Council Inc.; under his luminous leadership, the Council expanded its sponsorship of senior centers, offering a range of comprehensive services, from their first center located in Fort Greene-Clinton Hills to its present sponsorship of 13 centers located throughout Brooklyn; and WHEREAS, The much needed expansion also included a meals-on-wheels program, two child care centers, COMPASS, and UPK for ALLs; and WHEREAS, He was a visionary who created and organized Jazz 966 in November 1990, opening its doors to the Brooklyn community at affordable admission fees at a modest $15.00 donation, which was an alternative to the expensive Jazz clubs in New York City; and WHEREAS, Jazz 966 featured world renowned artist such as: Wynton Marsalis, Trumpeter; Houston Person, Saxophonist; Etta Jones, Jazz Singer; and their own Danny Mixon, Pianist, to name a few; and WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. truly cared for each and every person in his community, especially the elderly; for five years, he hosted and produced "The Grand Ones," a weekly radio show formerly aired on WNYE,

91.5FM; and WHEREAS, This compassionate visionary served as Chairman of Independent Brooklyn CORE for 16 years; in this role, he helped guide Brooklyn through its on-going struggles for social justice and political empowerment; and WHEREAS, Known for his steadfast and unremitting commitment to education, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. was elected to Central Brooklyn's Community School Board No. 16, where he held the position of Chairman; throughout his tenure, he was instrumental in initiating policies which dramatically improved the districts overall reading and math scores as well as its attendance rating; and WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. began his social service career as a case worker with New York City's Department of Social Services; he also served as an attendance teacher with the City's Board of Education; and WHEREAS, Moreover, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. worked part-time for 20 years as a teacher-in-charge and program specialist in Community School District No. 16's evening and summer community education programs; and WHEREAS, For 34 years, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. was a Professor of Social Science at Ramapo College of New Jersey; during this time, he chaired the Africana Studies program for two decades, and founded its Institute of Africana Studies; he also created Ramapo's highly acclaimed Summer Study Abroad program; and WHEREAS, Throughout his many years of service, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. has been the recipient of more than 90 awards and accolades from various elected officials, block and tenant associations, PTAs, academic and religious orders, schools, fraternal groups, cultural institutions and other groups; and WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. was also honored by Ramapo College's Board of Trustees with its most prestigious award, the Fred and Florence Thomas Award; concurrently, he was the proud recipient of the inaugural Sam Pinn Educator Activist Award presented by Ramapo College's Minority Faculty and Staff Association for his years of advocacy on behalf of Ramapo's students, faculty and staff of color; and WHEREAS, Additionally, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. served as a Scoutmaster for Troop 583 in Central Brooklyn, a basketball coach for "Brooklyn's Young Professionals", a Parliamentarian of Alpha Upsilon chapter (AU/70) of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Elder in the Shrine House of Nana Kojo Ayesu- Children of Nana Akonnedi Cultural Organization; and WHEREAS, Predeceased by his son, Charles, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Cynthia Doris Smith; two sons, Sam and Gregory; and one daughter-in-law, Candace; as well as four grandchildren, Wynton, Simeon, Sydney Marie, and Cameron; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the death of Dr. Sam Pinn Jr. co-Founder and Chairman of Fort Greene Council, Inc., and co-Founder and Director of Jazz966; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Dr. Sam Pinn Jr.