A man who gave beyond measure

According to Maimonides, the highest level of charity is to give anonymously. If there was ever a man who epitomised this, it was Eric Samson, who gave beyond measure.

Born in Cape Town in 1938, South African and global steel magnate Samson had a substantial impact on countless causes and communities throughout the world as well as profoundly changing the lives of numerous individuals.

Samson’s legendary philanthropic work had an impact on virtually every Jewish communal organisation in South Africa. His arc of giving encompassed all – from kindergartens to old aged homes, from Jewish community centres to the Chevrah Kadisha, no aspect of Jewish communal life was left untouched. Samson embodied the loftiest values of humility, compassion, sincerity, wisdom, fairness, and gemilut chasadim (kindness), and distinguished himself as a visionary leader through his charitable endeavours and his dedicated efforts on behalf of the Jewish people and Israel.

His business credentials speak for themselves. This modest and unassuming 82-year-old single-handedly transformed a small steel trading family enterprise that he established in 1962 into a global powerhouse. Today, Macsteel is the largest distributor of steel in Africa, and operates in 39 countries across the world.

Samson’s passion for philanthropy was most evident when it came to education and children. He was a benefactor to and received a number of honorary doctorates from South African and Israeli universities.

He was a major donor to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund as well as the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. He shared a great friendship with former President Nelson Mandela as well as with President Cyril Ramaphosa. His support for Ma Afrika Tikkun as well as the “adopt-a-school” programme had an impact on thousands of underprivileged children on a daily basis, transforming lives of poverty into opportunity. His Macsteel Maestros mentoring programme for disadvantaged sports men and women produced numerous national winners as well as an Olympic gold medallist.

In Israel, Samson, together with his wife, Sheila, and family, supported many major initiatives, some that that have changed the face of Israel. These include:

The prestigious Eric and Sheila Samson Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation in Alternative Fuels for Transportation, which was initiated in 2013, together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This annual award, in the sum of $1 million (R15 million), has become the most prominent award for alternative-energy innovation.

The renovation of Independence Hall in Tel Aviv, a monumental project which is the cornerstone of the nationwide heritage project.

The Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, the first public hospital to serve the people of Ashdod and the surrounding area.

The Eric and Sheila Samson Surgical Hospital at Barzilai Medical Center, which has a direct impact on the medical treatment provided to hundreds of thousands of citizens in the south of Israel.

In addition, he supported many organisations in Israel including the Beit Protea Retirement Home, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, the Sheila Samson Centre of Enlightenment, playgrounds, tennis centres, and the Samson Stadium in Jerusalem, to name but a few. He was instrumental in the creation of the Beit Issie Shapiro Organisation, which caters for the needs of the disabled.

In the United States, Eric funded many projects with the Cleveland Clinic, including a partnership with Case Western Reserve University for advanced medical education, a cardiac wing, and a global centre for leadership in medicine.

His tireless commitment to humanitarianism brought him numerous awards throughout the world including from UJA, IUA, UCF, Magen David Adom, Bnei Brith, and Keren Hayesod.

Samson’s global philanthropy has always been encouraged by Sheila, who has been at his side for the past five decades.

Above all, Samson was a dedicated family man. His three children, Jeffrey, Dorothy, Frankie and their families all share the same commitment to philanthropy, the Jewish people and Israel, and undoubtedly will continue to perpetuate his legacy.

Perhaps the best way to encapsulate Samson’s essence can be found in the famous quote attributed to Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”.

May the precious memory of Eric Samson always be a blessing for all and may he rest in peace.

• Alan Fischer is Eric Samson’s biographer and a close friend of the family.