Albert George “Sam” Keith, 97, of East Hartford passed away February 22, 2023 at Hartford Hospital.
Born October 25, 1925 in Manchester to the late Haven Hinman Keith and Martha (Pitkat) Keith. A WWII Veteran serving in the U.S. Navy, Albert enlisted immediately after graduating from East Hartford High School in June 1943. Upon enlisting he was sent to Pre-Radio School in Michigan City, Indiana and then to Texas A&M College where he completed his course of study. After being stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, he was deployed to the Philippines, Jinomac Island, as an Aviation Electronic Technician’s Mate First Class and was responsible for aviation radio as part of the Jinomac Island Radar division.
After serving in the Navy, Albert attended Northeastern University in Boston with an interest in Architecture. Upon coming home, after his first semester, his father recruited him to stay in the family business as a floorlayer where he began his life’s work.
As a young boy in the Burnside section of East Hartford, Albert was playing with some older boys in the neighborhood and a boy asked what his name was. Informing him his name was Albert, the boy replied, “You don’t look like an Albert, I think we will call you Sam,” and a nickname was struck. Although the family always called him Albert, countless friends and business associates called him Sam throughout his life.
Carrying on the family business, Albert (Sam) became a master hardwood floorlayer and refinisher, a trade he and his late brother Harold learned from their father, who learned the trade from his father Orie Oak Keith in Massachusetts. The family floorlaying and sanding business started in 1925 when Albert’s father partnered with Leonard Miller to create Miller & Keith Hardwood Floors in Hartford. In 1939, Haven assumed the business outright and in 1945 the company became H.H. Keith & Sons after his sons returned from WWII. When his father retired in 1961 Albert took sole ownership of the business as A.G. Keith Floor laying where he worked into his 80’s.
Albert’s life’s work of beautiful hardwood floors will be enjoyed for generations to come in the many homes and businesses that he worked in throughout the region. A lifelong East Hartford resident, Albert preferred working on the east side of the “big river” to avoid having to travel across the river from East Hartford. In 2009, Hardwood Floors, the magazine of the National Wood Flooring Association, did a feature story on Albert’s path in the industry starting in the 1930’s when he was only 9 years old carrying tools and sweeping sawdust, and discussing the family business over his 75-year-plus career.
Albert was a life member of the VFW Post 2083 in East Hartford and was also an active member of Volunteer Hose Company #3 into his 90’s where he enjoyed playing setback. Albert also enjoyed snowmobiling, long trips through upstate New York and northern New England, and taking his nieces and nephews for rides. He was an avid sportsman who played golf, bowled in several leagues, went saltwater fishing, and enjoyed taking his beloved dogs Brandy and Smokey on long walks and hikes. Later in life Albert thoroughly enjoyed times spent with friends and family sharing meals at 99 Restaurant and Anna’s Restaurant, or playing the slots where he was a regular past his 97th birthday.
He especially enjoyed family holiday gatherings and summer picnics where, as he would say, “you get a good meal.”
Albert is survived by his loving sister Rita (Keith) Spring of East Hartford, who tirelessly always looked after her big brother. He is predeceased by his brothers Harold Edward Keith and Walter Emerson Keith. He is survived by many nieces and nephews including Linda and Gary Therrien of Glastonbury, Lauri Spring of Simsbury, Keith and Beth Spring of Greenville, SC, Karin and Christopher Dutton of Tolland, David and Heather Keith of Harrisburg, NC, as well as grand-nieces and nephews, Kaitlyn and Cassidy Spring, Kacey and Kadie Dutton and Daniel Haven Keith. He is also survived by his many good friends at the Volunteer Hose Company #3 and his buddies Pete White, Larry Covell, Fran Cyr, and Jeff Bantle.
Funeral services will be private. There will be a celebration of Albert’s life at Vol. Hose Co. #3 at a date TBA. The family would like to thank his care givers, Ki, Brenda, and Sara; the staff at Hartford Hospital; and D’Esopo’s for their kindness and compassion. On-line, visit www.desopoeh.com
