Dr. Lois Neil-Sambar

 Dr. Lois Neil-Sambar, 76, former Glendale Unified School District Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction and former principal of Rosemont Middle School, a well-known educator and philanthropist in the Glendale-La Crescenta area, died Tuesday in her home in La Canada-Flintridge following a nearly two-decade valiant battle with cancer.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montrose with Father Jack Foley officiating.  Immediately following  the service, a tribute reception will be held at Oakmont Country Club. 

Lois  is survived by her husband, Chakib (Chuck) Sambar, former President of the Glendale Unified School District and long-time GUSD board member and former  Vice Principal of Instruction at Crescenta Valley High School;  her  son,  William C. Neil, III, of Lake Havasu, AZ;  her son, Richard Neil, a daughter-in-law, Susan Neil and, twin grand-daughters, Lori and Lisa Neil, all of Phoenix, AZ; and cousins, Dr. Carol Bradley, Corona del Mar, CA; Fred Weaver, of Lake Saint Louis, Mo.,  Dr. Pieter Ketelaar, of Wall Township, New Jersey; and  Donald  Walsh of  Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, William C. Neil, Jr., and her parents, Walter and Louise (Mickey) Weaver.

Born On October 30, 1934 in Hoboken, New Jersey, she attended Catholic and public schools,  graduating as valedictorian of her 1952 class at Union Hill High School.  She received her  B.A. Degree in history from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and her M.A. Degree in education from California State University, Los Angeles.  She held teaching credentials for primary education in the state of Michigan and secondary education in California.

Lois was admired for her excellence in teaching, her administrative abilities and for applying for and successfully receiving educational grants totaling millions of dollars for programs and projects in the GUSD schools. She was principal when Rosemont was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1993.