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.