Victor "Vic" Edward Samuelson

Victor Edward Samuelson was born on March 4, 1937, in Cleveland, Ohio. He passed away peacefully on November 25, 2024, at Caroline’s Cottage, part of the Friends of Caroline Hospice in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Vic grew up in Shaker Heights, OH and graduated from Shaker Heights High School. He went on to earn a BA in Economics from Cornell University and an MBA at Harvard Business School.

Vic worked in various management positions at Exxon Corporation from 1961 to 1986.  His work covered many facets of oil refining operations including Board of Directors oversight of the entire business in four Latin American countries, management of planning for all corporate business in the Middle East, and management of all petroleum finished product pricing in the US. His career with Exxon started in NYC. It then took him to Coral Gables, FL; several Central and South America countries and then back to the US - NYC; Norwalk, CT; Baltimore MD; and finally, Houston TX.

On December 6, 1973, a Marxist guerilla group called People’s Revolutionary Army kidnapped Vic at the restaurant of the Esso Argentina Oil Company Refinery in Campana, 90 miles northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was held captive for 144 days and released on April 29, 1974, after Exxon Corporation paid a record ransom of $14.2 million. 

From 1994-2005, Vic served as a Key Group Chairman with The Executive Committee (TEC)/Vistage International where he formed groups of Chief Executive Officers (CEO’s) of non-competing small to medium-sized businesses and facilitated monthly full-day meetings. He managed two of these groups as well as one group of Key Executives (direct reports of CEO’s).

Vic met and married the love of his life, Diane, in 1960. He was a devoted husband and father –

a family man. He is survived by Diane, his wife of 64 years and by his three children: Eric Hart, Scott Thomas and Cate Courtenay. He is also survived by his two grandchildren, Emma Lane and Jolie Jane.

Vic had a passion for golf and often spent his time practicing and playing. He was also an animal lover. He was very active in his church – The Providence Presbyterian Church – and served as a member of its governing body and various committees. He was very proud to be on the search committee to bring in its current senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Bill Ward and his wife, Rachel. He also served on various committees in the Long Cove community during 10 years of living there. Vic was highly regarded by fellow committee members at both his church and Long Cove.

A memorial service will be held at Providence Church, 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head, SC on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 11:00 am, followed by a light lunch reception. (The service will be available via livestream at www.providencehhi.org.)  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Providence Church, St. Jude’s Research Children’s Hospital and the Humane Society.