Sam Wool, bon vivant and gentleman, incredibly turns 100 on April 13. He lives a very independent life with little regard to his chronological age. He is out and about town, at the theater, the movies, the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, museums and at the city’s interesting restaurants accompanied by Norma Tannenbaum. In season, he’s on the golf course three times a week and on Sunday mornings is part of the breakfast crowd at Pumpernickles.

Sam shared his life for 67 years with his beloved wife, Libbie, for whom he cared through her long illness until her death in 2000. He is a devoted and generous father, Joyce Rosenfeld, grandfather to Emily Rosenfeld and her partner Keith Graham, and great-grandfather to Jasper James Graham.

A respected businessman as head of General Iron and Steel, started with his father, Louis, in 1933, Sam is also a lifetime member of B’nai Amoona, of which his father was a founding member.

When in his company, we enjoy his stories, wit, sense of humor, loyalty and steadfastness. It’s no surprise that this optimistic, fun-loving man, who also has a great singing voice and is quite a dancer, has, as his slogans, “this too shall pass” and “let the good times roll.”

A brunch for over 100 of Sam’s loved ones, from near and far, hosted by Shirley Londe and Carl and Tony Carlie, is being held at Meadowbrook Country Club on April 17. Happy Birthday, Sam!