Thomas Lawrence Samose, longtime resident of Westport/Weston died Sunday October 24th of natural causes. Tom was born on January 31, 1946 in Manhattan to Morton and Audrey Samose. When he was 8 years old, his family, including his brother Richard (predeceased) moved to Westport where he attended the public schools. Upon graduation from Staples High School he attended Columbia University where he received a bachelor's degree in philosophy followed by a master's degree in social work from Fordham University. It was this degree that led him to many, many years as an LCSW family counselor working out of his small office on Whitney Avenue, eventually, calling his practice "Nature's Way Counseling." Through his unique approach to counseling, Tom impacted hundreds and hundreds of individuals and families, with many saying that he literally saved their lives. Forever known as Uncle Tommy to nephew Jason Samose of Oak Park CA; nieces Emily Samose of Washington, D.C. and Bonnie Fitzpatrick of Townsend, MA, they remember his many words of advice and memorable sayings such as "expectations are inversely proportional to serenity" and always trying to live by his analogy of life being a river which ebbs and flows. He was great Uncle Tommy to Jason's children, Nathan, Julia and Luke Samose and Bonnie's children, Caitlin and Abigail Fitzpatrick. He was cousin to Stephen Langenthal of Manhattan with whom he remained close along with his wife Alba and their daughter Carla with regular dinners in New York. Tom is a United States veteran, having served in the Army. Perhaps most importantly and reflecting the name he gave to his counseling practice, Tom was a lover of and advocate for the great outdoors; hiking Mt. Katahdin in Maine, canoeing down many New England rivers and traveling throughout the U.S. and internationally to canoe and explore. It was this love that led him to create the Machias Outing Club where he led canoe and camping trips and travel excursions abroad in its later years. Having run the NYC Marathon several times, Tom also held a Machias Outing Club Resolution Day race on New Year's Day throughout the '80s. Tom was important to many and a memorial/celebration of life will be celebrated at a later date. Please visit the following for updates: https://www.facebook.com/Tom-Samose-Memorial-107695111711458/ or https://www.facebook.com/natureswaycounseling In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to an organization that promotes the outdoors in Tom's name. As we mourn this terrible loss, perhaps we can take comfort in one of Tom's favorite sayings: "In the folly of man lies the wisdom of God."