May 04, 2023

While going through some old college photos and reminiscing, I came upon one from the late 70s where Dr. Ha had taken our marine ichthyology class on an excursion to the Florida Keys.  He was dissecting a shark in the parking lot of the Dolphin Motel in Marathon!  It is one of the highlights of my life.  Even though I graduated with a degree in Marine Science from Kutztown, I was able to use my knowledge obtained through him and other dedicated professors, in a 27 year middle school teaching career.  He was an outstanding teacher and motivator.
     I am sorry this is 12 years too late, but I just discovered his obituary.  Please know that your husband and father had a wonderful impact on my life.  I have been able to pass along my love of the sea to so many of my students, so his positive influence on me has been passed on to others.  One quick anecdote – Dr Ha let me take a not so clean and aromatic Queen Helmet shell in the trailer we were pulling when we returned to Wallops Island.  That (cleaned) shell still sits proudly in my living room.  My blessings to you all.  Ron Lewis Clermont, Florida.

My condolences to the entire family. He sounded like an amazing man. Loved by his many children and grandchildren. Anyone would be lucky to live the life he did and enjoy it they way he did. As a society, we need to acknowledge these people more often.

Sincerely,

Cylia Civelek
MPS candidate in Marine Biology and Fisheries
RSMAS University of Miami

BSc Marine Biology
Dalhousie University

I am truly sorry for your loss.  I had the privilege of knowing Dr. Ha.  I will be praying for all of you.

Alan Henningsen

Dan,

I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. Please accept my condolences.

Thinking of you & your family,

Lisa Whitenack

My deepest sympathies to the Ha family. Dr. Ha was my professor for marine biology, animal behavior and several other courses at Wallops Island and in the Florida Keys during the late 1990s. I have so many fond memories of Dr. Ha. One of them was our trip to Marathon for his marine ichthyology class and our visit to RSMAS where he earned his PhD. After graduation from Millersville, I moved to Florida where I went to graduate school and lived for almost 15 years. Sam Ha was without a doubt my favorite professor, the one I learned the most from, and the most influential person in my academic and professional career. I will always remember him fondly.

Dr. Justin M. Krebs

Please accept my message of support to you and your family. Professor Ha was my marine biology professor from 1994-1998. His classes were incredibly difficult but I learned and that was the point. I still have my notebooks from his class and I reviewed them upon learning of his death. I still remember listening to his lectures, I can hear his voice as if it was yesterday and I will never forget the endless hours of preparation for his class. I served as his assistant for several terms and it was one of the greatest honors of my undergraduate education. Dr. Ha introduced me to Chinese cuisine in Wallops Island. Little did he know that years later I would meet my husband while living in China. I am now a lecturer at a university in London. Dr Ha has often been a source of inspiration in how I construct my classes and exams! Please know that his legacy of education and passion for biology and environmental issues lives on through his students. With best wishes and greatest condolences.

Dr. Jennifer Randall

My deepest sympathy to your family. I was in Dr. Ha’s biology class at Millersville in the mid-1970s, even though my career path was to become a librarian. He was one of the many professors who made Millersville special.
Elaine Skiles, ’78

MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. IT WAS A PLEASURE JUST KNOWING HIM.
DOUG HILTON (NEW HOLLAND AUTO)

My deepest condolences to the entire Ha family. I feel like I know you all and have met most of you, thanks to Dr. Ha’s stories and inclusion of you all in the life of his Millersville students. My career can be credited to Dr. Ha, his infectious enthusiasm, his personal counsel, his enthusiastic references and gracious presence. He will be sorely missed in the marine biology community.

Doug Myers (87)

Dear Margaret,

I was sorry to hear of Sam’s passing.  I remember how he built our kiosk that the League used at Park City.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

Jo Conlin

My deepest sympathies on you loss.  I had the privilege of being one of his students during my time at Millersville (l969-l973), and remember his classes with fondness.  It was obvious he loved what he was doing, and he passed that enthusiasm on to his students.  I was also one of the thousands of students who benefitted from the Marine Science Consortium during summer graduate studies (1973-77).  His contributions to the sciences at Millersville were many, and he will be missed.

Janis (Nicodem) Frankhouser, ’73

My sincerest sympathy for your loss.

Dr. Ha was a truly inspiring professor who made a huge and direct impact on my life. Thanks alone to his enthusiasm and trail-blazing approach to practical field experience, I had the skills AND courage to pursue a dream career in marine biology and oceanography. Without a doubt my life was and is far better because of my classes and field trips with this energizing and dynamic force FOR nature. Thank you God, for the life of Dr. Ha.

Cheri Van Zant

Very sorry for your loss.  He sounds like a wonderful man…and raised a w/o wonderful son in Tom.

Jon Stenberg

I had the pleasure of taking Field Camp with Dr. Ha in the summer of 1988.  He drove a van full of 12 students across the country, up the entire Pacific coast and back.  We lived on the road for a month, stopping at national parks and other biological points of interest. and camping every night.  That trip remains one of the high points of my life.  So sorry for your loss.

Dear Margaret and family,

We extend to you our sincere sympathy on this sad occasion. It was a privilege to know Sam.

Sincerely,
Zenaida E. S. Uy and Susan P. Luek

My deepest sympathy.Your friend and co-worker.
                                              
Kyle Hake.

Tom & Family,
We are very sorry for your loss, we hope you can find solace in Sam’s accomplishments and full life.
Jeannie, Dave & Todd

Tom,

My deepest sympathies on the passing of your father.

Chip Wachob