Sam Maceo Plitt

Sam Maceo Plitt died at Regency on Whidbey Harbor Care of Oak Harbor on Jan. 15, 2008, at the age of 65. He was born and raised in Galveston, Texas. His parents, Henry George and Edna Sedgewick Plitt, raised him. At age 12, Sam moved with his parents to New Orleans. Later, they moved to New York City, where Sam graduated from high school.

Sam and his brother Edward Plitt, joined the U.S. Army on Sept. 17, 1962, and they served together with the 1st/501st – 101 Airborne Division Paratroopers. He left the Army when his enlistment was up in 1965.

Sam attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and also the University of Evansville in Indiana. He left college and traveled to California, Minnesota, Arizona and Chicago. In Chicago, he began work for Plitt Theaters. He was married to Denise Ann Zlotkowski in Chicago on April 26, 1986.

Sam and Denise moved to Springfield, Ill., where he worked for Kerasotes Theaters. He moved on to Phoenix, Arizona, where he served with Cinemark and then on to Lake Jackson, Texas, and work with an independent cinema operator. In 1990, Sam and Denise moved to Oak Harbor, where they operated Plitt Amusement Company.

In 1998, Sam retired. He and Denise moved to Willis, Texas for two years to be near his children and grandchildren, but could not handle the climate and in 2005, returned to Whidbey Island.

Sam is survived by his wife Denise of Oak Harbor; by two children, Stephanie Plitt of Spring, Texas and Henry George Plitt II of Hockley, Texas; four grandchildren, Brittany Ann Plitt, Corina Plitt, Henry George Plitt III and Michael M. Plitt; and one brother Edward Plitt, also of Oak Harbor. One sister, Sedgie Halpren, preceded him in death.

Sam requested no formal funeral services be conducted. Cremation was held with private family inurnment. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Sam’s name to the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation, 101 N. Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.