Assistant Chief – Division 3
Deceased:
09/03/2021
Appointed:
05/19/1958
Pensioned:
07/03/1988 – Div3
Details about the memorial service.
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Gordon Hopkins says
No words can possibly describe what a gentleman Johnny was.
And the best friend a guy could possibly have.
Terry Sampson says
Gordon, I thank you and Kay for meeting Johnny. Being married to him for 42 years was an adventure. Thank you for being there for him (especially in his last days) You were a true true friend to him which I appreciate very much.
Robert McMaster says
A GENTLEMAN and CLASS ACT. One of the finest chief officers I had the privilege of knowing and working with.
My condolences to Chief Sampson’s family. Rest in piece chief.
Terry Sampson says
Robert,
Thank you for your kind words.
Robert McMaster says
A GENTLEMAN and CLASS ACT. One of the finest chief officers I had the privilege of knowing and working with. My condolences to Chief Sampson’s family. Rest in piece chief.
Kevin Kearns says
I was privileged to drive Chief Sampson on a few occasions as a Driver’s Aide. Awesome individual and a real gentleman. As a Captain I we had a fire in a Carpet warehouse. The fire was held due to the sprinklers system but was a problem to put out. As a new Captain I suggested using blowers at the front doors (Chief Mittendorf had practiced this technique while I was driving him). Chief Sampson thought about it and then said let’s try it and It did work, I never would have suggested the idea to most Chief’s, but Chief Sampson was the type of person I knew would listen. My condolences to the Sampson family.
Terry Sampson says
Kevin,
Yes, Johnny was the type of man that would listen and would say…let’s try it. I was married to him for almost 42 years and he pretty much did EVERYTHING I suggested. ha ha. I miss him very much and thank you for remembering him
Richard Watters says
I was assigned to FS 88 (Div 3 HDQS) for about two years, and Chief Sampson was on another shift for part of that time, but where I really got to know him was through our shared love of Motorcycles, both in the dirt and on the street. Johnny was part of a group that conducted M/C enduro rides for some time, but where I got to really know him was on group street rides, the most memorable being a ride into Colorado, including riding thru the Eisenhower Tunnel, and going to the top of Pikes Peak on a beautiful clear sunny day. Before several of the multi day street rides, I spent the night at his home to get an early start the following morning. My sincere condolences to Johnnies wife Terri, and his son and daughter. The LAFD has lost one of its BEST, may he Rest in peace.
Terry Sampson says
Hi Rick,
Thank you for your comments. It was good to see you and your son last Saturday. Johnny loved to ride on both street bikes and dirt bikes. I told him if you don’t want to get hurt just stay ON the bike.
Thank you for sharing the day to honor him
Rudy McTee says
I never worked around Chief Sampson but knew him from our high school days. He was two years ahead of me at Narbonne, and joined the department shortly after graduation. We did rub elbows a couple of times, all good!!
He was a real gentleman as noted from the reply’s above. RIP my friend
Terry Sampson says
Rudy,
Thank you for your comments. He did mention your name on several different occasions. I believe you, also, know Gene Trinkler up in Oregon and did some salmon fishing with him. Next time you talk with Gene you can ask him when he took us fishing and ask WHO caught the only fish of the day.
Ione Gamrat says
Jonny Sampson was one of the first members of LAFD that I met when Jack Gamrat joined the department. I will always have fond memories of those early years. To Johnny’s family my heart felt sympathy for the loss of a special person.
Jerry Allingham says
Remembering Johnny Sampson in the good O days the frappe club all of us going snow skiing he was one hell of snow skier even though we drifted apart But we were still very good friends Leah and I will always have you and Terri in our hearts you will be deeply missed.
Jim Haworth says
I worked for Johnny up at Fire Station 74 back when I was an engineer and he was a captain. What a great guy. He lived up in the Antelope Valley then and we rode to work together a couple of times. Johnny will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Bill Koenig says
I was lucky enough to get to work for Chief Sampson and Vern Raden as his driver. Had to be two of the best men I met on the job, great combination. RIP Johnny.
Ken Brass says
Johnny was an Engineer at Fs-64c when I was first assigned as a Captain 1n 1968. What an experience ! Frappe Club, water, River trips, Snow skiing, Lots of fires Docs first shift we had 24 runs . What shocked him was that no one even Commented about it. Johnny could always be counted on to do his job & then some. What a man1! My condolences to Terry & the family. RIP John
don gross says
A class act ” CHIEF” !!!! , back in … “the day”
…… gross, tractor co in the 80’s
………. at FS “88′”
John A. Jacobsen says
I met Johnny at FS-64 in 1970 and we became fast friends in part due to our love of motorcycles, snow skiing, water skiing,, traveling and spending great times with family and friends. As for the previous posts, in all the years I have known him, I have never seen or heard him come unglued. The finest person and friend anyone could have. I will miss him deeply and offer my deepest condolences to Terry, Scott and Jenny.
Joe Foley says
What a treasure Johnny was. As I worked around Chief Sampson in the LAFD, I admired him tremendously.
He quickly became a mentor of mine. His intelligence, leadership, and the love he had for the LAFD, were
traits and charateristics I tried to aspire to in my own career. Some of my fondest memories of Johnny were riding and competing on dirt bikes in the Mojave Desert and our many trips to Baja (Mike’s Sky Ranch). Johnny always had a smile on his face and was always the first one to lend a hand on our many trail side dirt bike repairs. Several years ago, I was on a ski vacation with my family in Mammoth Mountain. We stopped for lunch at Warming Hut II. In walks Johnny, with of course that big smile on his face, recognizes me and my family and sat down for a nice visit and share a meal. He told me he was “living the dream”. Skiing all winter, riding dirt bikes all summer. That was Johnny… Condolences to the entire Sampson family. He will be missed.