Obituary of Harland Samuel Dye

Known to his friends and family as Sam, Harland Samuel Dye of Delancey, New York, passed away suddenly on December 16th 2024. He was 43 years old. His final hours were spent doing what he loved: laughing and celebrating with his close friends. 

Sam was an incredible human. He was kind and loving and generous and goofy. He was a good son. Sam’s presence was a force. You could feel when he was in the room. He was observant, he listened deeply and spoke thoughtfully. He never left home without his cowboy boots and a fishing pole. You could be sure to see him driving around town in his pickup truck; cowboy hat and sunglasses on with the windows down and the radio on. He loved music, both listening to it and playing it and his performances as the front man of Harland & the Brown Liquor Breakdown were some of his favorite recent memories. He loved listening to Gordon Lightfoot on Sunday mornings. He vocally, really loved calamari. He preferred a nice Slim Jim over dessert. He was an active member of the Andes community and always gave his all whether it was as leader of the planning board or as Rudolph in the Andes holiday parade. It was widely accepted that there wasn’t a better looking reindeer than Sam Dye. He was a true friend to all those who had the pleasure of meeting him. 

Sam was born in Kettering, Ohio on January 3rd, 1981 to Deborah Jege Hawkins Goddard and Harland Timothy Dye. He went to Earlham College and studied law at the City University of New York. He was fortunate enough to be involved in incredibly important immigration law work with the Juan Neumann Center at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn. His work there helped hundreds of low income families get critical legal work for little to no money and he was most proud of his time there. 

Andes, New York became his true home after relocating in 2016 with his then wife, Sally LaPointe. Upon moving to Delaware County, he practiced law at his own firm located in Delhi, New York. He later served on the board for Habitat for Humanity and led the planning board in Andes. 

Sam leaves behind his mother, Deborah Jege Hawkins Goddard, father Harland Timothy Dye, grandmothers Ann Meade Hawkins and Linda Kratzer (and spouse Dallas), Sam’s partner Maggie McDowell, maternal uncle and aunt James Meade & Marye Beth Hawkins, maternal cousins, Daniel Hawkins, Kara Hawkins, and Colleen Cosey, paternal uncles and aunts Dr. Michael & Kathy Dye, Cynthia (Dye) & John Wimmers, and Susan (Dye) & David Adams as well as too many other uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and chosen family to name that loved and admired him beyond comprehension. 

All are welcome to join us in celebrating Sam’s life at 4pm on Saturday, December 21st 2024 at the Andes Hotel. Additional information can be found on the Andes Hotel Instagram and website. 

Sam was a longtime advocate for immigrants’ rights. If you are interested in making a donation in Sam’s name, please consider a contribution to The Juan Neumann Center, an organization that provides legal assistance to the Sunset Park immigrant community at the lowest possible cost. Donations can be made by sending them a check directly (more information on their website) or by venmoing @DerekCurl and the funds will be forwarded.