Sam O'Daniel

Sam O'Daniel, 55, of Rockville, Md., passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 2, 2016, after a two-year battle against a rare cancer.

Born April 19, 1961, he was the son of the late Sam Thomas O'Daniel and Connie (Thomas) O'Daniel of Nicholasville, Ky.

Sam was a 1979 graduate of Greencastle High School. He attended Xavier University, graduating with a B.S. in management information systems, before moving to Washington D.C., where he began his 25+ year career in information technology.

Sam has been a contributor to many early Silicon Valley start-ups, often establishing the first customer. After numerous successes, he went on to launch his own company, which will continue to live on today.

More importantly, it was at the very beginning of this career that he met the love of his life, Ilene, and their 30-year relationship began.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ilene Beth O'Daniel (Lindenberg), and their four children, Justin (18), Alex (22), Emily (24) and Sam (26). He is also survived by his mother Connie, his older sister Jackie and his younger brother Michael (Sara). He is also survived by his in-laws, Carole and Irwin Lindenberg, and his brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law, Gary Lindenberg (Mechelle), Tracy Backers (Marc), Leslie Lindenberg and Debbie Waxman (Rich), 20 nieces and nephews; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his caring father, Sam Thomas O'Daniel, and dear sister, Cynthia Ann Nelson (Keith).

Sam was a role model to his children, friends and colleagues. He has touched the lives of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him and he will be deeply missed.

Sam was laid to rest on June 6 in Olney, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to the memory of Sam O'Daniel at Cycle for survival: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/InCelebrationOfSamODaniel.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com.