Samuel Strock, president of produce wholesaler S. Strock & Co. on the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, died Dec. 5 at age 90.
S. Strock & Co. is a mainstay in the Boston area, having been founded in 1897 when the market was located at the now historic Faneuil Hall in Boston. Mr. Strock, the grandson of the company’s founder, also named Samuel, joined the business in 1950 and worked alongside his father, uncles and cousins. He was eventually joined in the business by his sons, Bruce and Rick, and more recently several grandchildren. The company received its PACA license in 1930, making it one of the oldest active licenses in the industry.
Mr. Strock has been instrumental in guiding the company to success during his tenure, according to his grandson, Michael.
“My grandfather, Sam, is iconic in how instrumental he has been in putting the company on the right path toward growth and prosperity,” Michael Strock said in a 2014 interview with The Produce News. “Things in the produce industry have changed tremendously in our more than 100-year history, but one thing has remained constant at S. Strock & Co. — our commitment to help our customers continue to grow with us and thrive well into the future.”
A graduate of Brookline High School and the University of Maine, Mr. Strock was proud to be a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He was also very proud to receive the award for 2013 New England Produce Person of the Year, which was presented to him at the New England Produce Council's annual expo.
Mr. Strock continued to work until this past January, when he started to have more difficulty getting around. He would call daily to see what was happening, and he asked that daily sales reports and the trade newspapers be brought to his house so he could still enjoy the business.
Mr. Strock was a big Red Sox fan who read the sports page in the newspapers first thing in the morning. He liked exercising on his stationary bike and using his free weights. He enjoyed playing golf or going to the driving range on the way home from work to hit a few buckets of balls, even when the weather was cold. He will be terribly missed by his dog, Angel, whom he doted on and adored.
Mr. Strock is survived by his wife, Geraldine; a son Bruce (Debbie); grandchildren Adam, Aliza, Jacob, Michael (Heather), Bryan and Alexandra; great-grandson Teddy; sister Lorraine Siegel; nieces Terry Weaver and Debbie Shastany; nephew Steven Freedman. He was predeceased by son Rick and sister Bernice Freedman.
The family would like to thank his caregivers who have helped immensely at his home the past few months. Those who wish to make a donation in Mr. Strock's memory can consider Camp Casco, P.O. Box 330, Sudbury, MA 01776 (campcasco.org), one of many organizations S. Strock & Co. helps to support.
