A good friend is hard to come by in this life: how fortunate I was to have met you, to have worked with you, and to have continued a friendship with you for over 30 years. How proud of Gavin and Corey you were. You were a great role model for them, and they certainly grew up to be outstanding. I think your greatest contributions occurred after you left IBM: on the radio, in the newspapers, and on the Internet. You were fun, loyal and smart. I shall never forget you or the impact you made on my life. Thank you, my friend, for touching me in such a positive way. — Jane Bozzone

Several years ago, I got an enthusiastic telephone call from a gentleman who told me how my book, Attitude Is Everything, had helped him get through a difficult medical problem. The caller was so enthusiastic, so grateful, and so kind. That caller was Sam Albert, and we became good friends. Sam bought dozens of copies of my book and gave them to others when they needed a lift. His enthusiasm and generosity were contagious. I have such fond memories of Sam, and I will always appreciate everything he did for me. He was such a positive role model and one who truly cared about others. I'm sure he's looking down on us and encouraging us in any way that he can. — Jeff Keller

I met Sam shortly after he left IBM and I had joined the local newspaper in Westchester County. Sam graciously offered to serve as a sounding board if I ever wanted insights into how IBM worked, and I wound up quoting him in countless stories. Eventually, it seemed like every technology writer in the country discovered Sam and for good reason. Sam's spirit lives on in my own corner of the media universe, where I now work with executives who are preparing to be interviewed by the press. When people ask me what traits they need in order to be viewed by reporters as an "expert," I tell them they need to be accessible, knowledgeable and quotable: just like Sam Albert. — Jeff Mangum

I loved the man. My office was next to Sam's at IBM from 1980-1982. It's probably trite to say, "He always made me feel good," but he did. I retired from IBM in 1990, but never really retired. I am in my third career, much of it due to the "attitude" reinforced by this remarkable guy. — Jim Tilley

Sam, I hardly knew ye, but what I knew then and remember now is your contagious enthusiasm and optimism, and your encyclopedic knowledge of the industry. Over the years, you've regaled us with stories, both personal and professional, taught us tricks of the trade (and yo-yos), and been there for advice, counsel and ideas. I feel lucky to have been both a colleague and a friend, to watch you revel in your successes, and qvell about your grandchildren, to see you work hard and love it, and, especially, to have spent such good times with you and Joice. I hardly knew ye, Sam, but I know what I like, and you are permanently burned into my memory banks. — Jon Lowell

My favorite recollection of Sam is how he would be in a taxi cab right before his radio show would come on. He'd ask the driver to switch to 1010 WINS and then — just before the broadcast — Sam would do the opening line ("This is Sam Albert with Computips brought to you by Chase"). Of course, moments later, the radio would say the same thing. I always worried the taxi driver would crash at that point. — Jonathan Spira

Sam Albert was one of my closest friends for more than twenty years. I always thought of him as a Jewish mother's dream: good looking, decent, and a good provider. Sam was extraordinarily devoted to his family: to his wife Joyce, whom he loved deeply; to his two children Gavin and Cory; and to his grandchildren. He was helpful to virtually everyone, honest, and reliable. If Sam said he would take care of something, there was no need to follow up. He always did what he said he was going to do, and he was always on time. My first encounter with Sam was a couple of years before he took early retirement from IBM. I was at an industry function, and Sam was going table to table doing yo-yo tricks as an attention getter. Seeing I was a former IBMer, Sam and I bonded almost immediately. After his retirement, we were involved in several business ventures, and it was always a pleasure doing business with him. Sam brought enthusiasm and hard work to every endeavor, and I could always depend on him to do the right thing. He was someone I could always confide in and depend upon. His advice was excellent, and he was a great sounding board. I miss him a lot. — Larry Parks

Sam Albert gave generously of himself and made a real difference in the lives of people around him. The business world can often be a cold and impersonal place, but Sam had a way of finding something special in every situation and every person. He is deeply missed. — Lora Gaston

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