Gail Sampson

Gail Sampson, a resident of both Warwick, N.Y., and Naples, N.Y., passed away suddenly on March 26th, 2026. She was 77 years old.

Born in Hackensack N.J., on Aug. 8, 1948, the daughter of the late Roy and Evelyn (nee Stewart) Vreeland. She was predeceased by her husband Donald just nine days prior to her passing.

Gail is survived by her children: Rebecca Sampson and her partner David Reed; Amy Cutler and her husband Brian; Donna Sampson Holt and her partner John Lisby; Diane Barrett and her husband Christopher; Clifford Sampson and his wife Maggie; and Neal Sampson and his wife Linda; as well as her sister, Debbie Gunderman and husband Danny, along with their children; Jennifer Rivers and husband Seve; and Daniel Gunderman and wife Rachel. Gail was blessed to have many grandchildren: Zachary Sampson, Tara Kressler, Christopher Barrett, Debbie Jean Polise, Jennifer Williamson, Jessica Soto, Brianna McCaul, and Kei Kullberg; as well as many, many great-grandchildren, cousins and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by Debra Phillips.

Gail and Don have owned and operated Mount Peter Ski Area for the past 56 years. At one time, they were the caregivers of many of the kids of Warwick, as the mountain was a “drop and go” spot for so many children, all of them looked after and cared for by Gail and Don. Together, they gave thousands of Warwick’s youths their first jobs, and taught us a life lesson about dedication, and about love. This quote by Robert H Schuller embodies how Gail and Don took on life: “When faced with a mountain, I will not quit! I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath, or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine with God’s help!”

The family is planning a celebration of life for both Gail and Don at 3 p.m. on April 26 at Mount Peter. They ask that you please RSVP to amy@mtpeter.com so they can plan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in their memory, for the woods were truly their home.

Arrangements were entrusted to Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick, NY. To send an online condolence, visit www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.