Samuel Roosevelt Hopkins, 70, Clayton, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Hospice of Jefferson County residence in Watertown.
He was born in Washington, N.C., and raised in Harlem and attended schools in Harlem.
Sam married Audrey Reilly (nee Hannah) on Dec. 7, 1991, in Plainfield, N.J.
He worked for 20 years in Kingston, Ont., first as head cook at The Queen’s Hotel, then as kitchen manager of the Kingston Brewing Company. He was the assistant cook at the Riverside Cafe, Clayton, for three years, then head cook for three years at The Thousand Islands Golf Club sports bar, Wellesley Island. He then became a license expediter for his sister’s business in New York City for two years. Sam returned to the 1000 Islands to manage the Thousand Islands Golf Club sports bar and the Lake Course Clubhouse restaurant and was kitchen manager of the Harbor Inn and O’Brien’s restaurants in Clayton. For the past 10 years, he was maintenance assistant at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton.
His chicken wing “Ghetto Sauce” recipe, which he originated at the Kingston Brewing Company was sold to the House of Blues, New Orleans, La. He began singing in public at the age of five as a member of the Baptist church he attended in Harlem.
Singing rhythm and blues with several bands in Canada and in the 1000 Islands performing jazz, blues and American standards at various venues with pianist Jim Burr and other local musicians. Sam regularly organized concerts to benefit local and national causes, including the annual Tunes for Turkey to benefit the Clayton Food Pantry and a 2005 event at the Clayton American Legion to support the Red Cross in its Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Surviving besides his wife, Audrey, are daughter Tanya Hopkins and sons Chris Hopkins of Montreal and Michael and Anthony Hopkins of New York City, one stepson and his wife, Christopher and Shelly Reilly of Elginburgh, Ont.; four grandchildren; two sisters, Hattie Smith of Mays Landing, N.J., and Ellenor Hopkins of Harlem; and nieces and nephews. A brother, Frank Hopkins, died before him. Cremation has taken place.
A celebration of life will be held at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton and at the Kingston Brew Pub, Kingston, Ontario, at a date and time to be announced. Interment service will take place at Tamworth Cemetery in the spring.
Local arrangements are with the T.R. Jetty Funeral Home in Clayton.
Donations may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham Street, Watertown, NY 13601, or the Antique Boat Museum, 750 Mary Street, Clayton, NY 13624.
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