Daniel Ralph Samuelson
Left Formation October 10, 2021
A graveside service for Daniel will be held Sunday, October 10, 2021, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North Ih-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660. Live Streaming at graveside: https://vimeo.com/event/1365403. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the SAMUELSON family.
Daniel Ralph Samuelson died peacefully at home on October 9, 2021. In his final moments, Rosalie, his wife of 75 years, and his two sons Scott and Kent, were with him and held him in love as he passed.
Danny was born in New Orleans in 1926. He was 95. Danny’s 95 years were full of kindness to others. He cared deeply for his family and was the one person who anyone could count on to show up to lend a hand or a kind ear in any sort of crisis. Whether help was needed with a construction project, making investment decisions, hanging art, making sets for Temple Beth Israel’s annual fundraiser or making the oversized Ten Commandments still seen above the bimah at Temple Beth Israel, you could count on Danny to do it. He had the eye, creativity and skill to do anything well. A humble man, Danny never sought praise or recognition.
Danny served his country in WWII, enlisting at the age of 17. As a tail gunner in a B-17, he flew 35 missions over Nazi Germany. He liked to say he was ‘too young to be scared.’
After the war, Danny and his cousin, Hymie, started Crown Tailors on E. 6th St. They worked together for nearly 50 years, never having a disagreement. For over 40 years, their business, rebranded Slax Menswear, clothed Austin men. Working at Slax Menswear was almost a rite of passage for many men and women in their teens. They learned how to interact with customers — how to understand people — something Danny excelled at. Working at Slax Menswear was also an exercise in learning responsibility and integrity. Gently reminding, Danny would teach the younger “sales force” to look alert, not sit on counters, encourage a tie or a second shirt, always giving clients options. What he was able to teach was getting to know what others wanted and needed. Back in the day, at Christmas, he had many customers who would call with a list of the relatives and ask to pick up the gifts, wrapped. Besides being a great teacher, he had a lightning quick wit, seeing humor in most any situation or person.
At age 65, Danny happily retired from the retail business to pursue many, many wonderful times with his family and friends. With the family, from early on, Danny engendered a love of other places and other people. He loved going to Mexico. Back in the ’60’s, he would say that ‘God was born in Acapulco.’ From camping in military surplus tents at Padre Island to taking cheap plastic rafts down mountain streams in the Southwest, he loved getting out and exploring with his kids. And he could grill — whole pigs with apples in their mouths, loads of burgers and hotdogs, and renowned grilled chicken and ribs cooked a thousand times on the back deck.
He loved his wife dearly and deeply. Well matched, they were there for generations of friends and family. Unsung heroes, they together contributed to bettering the lives of others in the most basic, tangible ways. They did it out of friendship and caring. They received great satisfaction seeing others simply have nicer lives.