ForeverMissed
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H.L. "Sam" Queen, of Celebration, Florida, passed peacefully from this life at home, surrounded by family, on April 23, 2019 after a very brief illness.

He was born August 24, 1937 in Shattuck, Oklahoma, where at a very early age he began selling candy, soda and cigarettes (!) to the doctors at the local hospital. While there, he was lucky enough to interact with a physician who had a larger vision for human health than what was generally taught. That physician took him under his wing, teaching him how to read and understand laboratory slides, among other things. Recognizing his interest in clinical laboratory work, the same physician eventually arranged for Sam a mentorship in St. Louis under R.B.H. Gradwohl, MD, who is today considered the father of forensic pathology. That in turn led to an early career in medical technology, which later developed into a lifelong passion for understanding how the human body is designed, and how its design can be supported by understanding blood chemistries and nutrition. Along the way, he acquired Bachelor of Science degrees in biology and chemistry and a Master’s degree in educating the health care professional; became a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Clinical Nutrition Specialist, and was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by the Open International University of Complementary Medicine.

Sam met and married his wife, Betty, in 1985, and together they began to develop and follow his vision. They travelled extensively around the country and the world so Sam could teach and share what he learned with other health professionals – often to Australia, but also to Greece, Canada, Germany, Paraguay, and the UK. He was never happier than when he was able to connect the dots in some piece of research to find a conclusion that he could translate into better ways of approaching health for the average person as well as those with complex medical problems. He was dedicated and compassionate, and aspired to have people empower themselves toward better everyday health through the application of healthful changes to diet and lifestyle.

He was a member of the board of directors for the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists (IAACN), and also taught sessions to their post graduate CCN candidates; was named by Dr. James Gordon, chairman of the White House Commission on Alternative Medicine, to a panel of nutrition experts to develop a curricula for reintroducing nutrition into medical school curriculum; served 30 years as the primary research consultant for H.B. Wallace of the Wallace Research Foundation; played an important role in raising the level of awareness among the lay public and health professionals about the various sources of mercury in our environment, and how to recognize and treat chronic mercury toxicity; and authored several books, newsletters and much recorded material. Sam’s teachings profoundly influenced the clinical skills of physicians, chiropractors, dentists, nutritionists and other healthcare practitioners. He taught a sophisticated model of deciphering blood chemistry to identify the underlying biochemical disturbances that make people sick, and provided guidance in how to support their recovery. 

Sam had a special appreciation and affinity for the dental profession. He always dreamed of seeing dentistry create a new specialty called the Dental Physician. Through the years he worked closely with some very dedicated dentists and touched many lives through them. 

At the time of his death Sam was still working with clients through his business and ministry, Designed2Win. He also continued his work on a computerized prototype of his health model-based interpretation of chemistry, as well as a book to explain the development and clinical utility of that first objectively measured human health model. 

Sam left this life as an example of the designed to win life that he so fervently believed in...when he began to experience general physical weakness shortly before his death, he had his own lab work done. The results showed no diseases of any kind. He simply had grown weary and was ready to move on from this world. Although his body failed him, his mind remained sharp and clear to the very end.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl Gorrell Queen and James Alva Queen; and his brother, James Alva Queen, Jr.

Sam is survived by his wife, Betty; sister, Jean Irwin of Nashville, Indiana; daughter, Sherrie Henry (and husband Guy) of West Frankfort Illinois; son, Alan Queen (and wife Renee) of Santa Cruz, California; four grandchildren – Chris Henry, Stacy Jerrell, Christopher Queen, and Cooper Queen; and four great-grandsons – Aiden, Caleb, Eli, and Quinton. 

Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Hearts, 8540 Kenosha Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80908 https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/about-sisters-of-c... Although Sam was not a Catholic, he always had a soft spot in his heart for these sisters and their work. 

October 18, 2020
October 18, 2020
I have always been frustrated reading blood chemistries, because they never measure actual 'tissue levels' which seem to be a much more important diagnostic tool. After hearing about Sam Queen from David Luce, M.D., I decided to attend Sam's seminar in Manitou Springs, CO back in 2009. After hearing Sam's story about his exposures to mercury and his related sickness, I was amazed at his knowledge of both clinical medicine and environmental medicine, so the entire weekend was spent asking as many questions as possible and trying to assimilate all the information Sam presented.
After hearing about Sam's passing a week ago, I felt a huge shock and that transformed into a deep sadness; I always wished our education systems were  all taught by teachers with Sam's level of intelligence and wisdom, instead of others purely driven by profit and misinformation, which is exactly what we are seeing now with this Covid insanity. I wish more than ever Sam was here to point out the falseness of the 'viral contagion' theories with his beautiful smile and his perfect Southern sense of humor. I love you Sam, and I will never be able to thank you enough for your commitment to honesty and truth in every aspect of scientific research. Peace on your journey into the infinite my brother.
January 24, 2020
January 24, 2020
Sam was such a great teacher and mentor for me early in my career as a dentist.  He was the first to ever mention the idea of a dentist becoming a "dental physician", which really struck my interest in order to better understand dental disease and how to approach the care of a patient, rather than just being a tooth mechanic. His science was spot on, and he always had a simple way to present the data and the research. His greatest body fo work to me was the "Subclinical Defects" and how human biology works in and integrated way.  Utterly brilliant.  Oh how I wish the medical and dental community would have seen him for his brilliance. But his work will always live within those he touched. And for this I am forever grateful, and will continue to be inspired by my fond memories of him. Including playing drums together.   RIP Sam. 
October 28, 2019
October 28, 2019
Betty - Bill and I are just learning about Homer's death.  As you can imagine Bill is sad to learn that his good high school friend has passed this life into another more beautiful one.  He has such fond memories and we are both thinking of you and sending our thoughts. 
October 14, 2019
October 14, 2019
Thank you, Betty, for sharing this tribute to Sam with us all. Sam is among the influential mentors to me in my lifetime. He was my teacher for my classes for my CCN, and he stood out to lift us all into a vision of what power nutrition had in running our metabolism. He opened a door into the priorities of human metabolism and the influence of targeted nutrients to modulate and bring metabolic balance and health. He was so kind and always carried his love for Betty and thankfulness to his God. Thank you, Betty, and sending blessings to you and your family.
May 31, 2019
May 31, 2019
Sam, for 14 years you have gently guided two busy professionals to study blood work, follow a vitamin and supplement regimen, enhance our diets with more wholesome food choices, and develop healthier nutritional habits. We probably would not even be here today without your balanced, persistent, and humorous promptings about health and making healthy choices.
We are still shocked that you had to leave us so soon but we know that we will see you on the other side healthy and whole. Enjoy the youthful Tree of Life. We are struggling to be in this world without you but we keep hearing your voice saying such things as “Berries are your friends,” or “Health is a journey,” or “You have to exercise,” or “Get some more mucosa butter,” or “Boil those chicken bones.”
Thank you for being a voice of reason that we could listen to in a world of chaotic and often conflicting health information. With your endearing humor and constant encouragement, you became as family to us. Know that you are loved and that you will be missed.
Gary and Harriet Buffington
May 20, 2019
May 20, 2019
Sam Queen’s ever fertile brain, his unrelenting quest for knowledge, and his supreme networking abilities led to so many breakthroughs for public health and individual health.
Without Sam Queen and Betty Queen’s book, and Sam’s subsequent campaign spanning a generation, there would have been no sustaining movement to end the use of dental amalgam. He found the funds via the late H.B. Wallace, he connected the science to the policy, and he motivated a generation of activists to get moving.  Spurred forward by a worldwide treaty addressing many major uses of mercury and including dental amalgam (Minamata Convention on Mercury), today we are on the downhill slope of retiring mercury dental fillings to the dustbins of history.
God’s blessing on Sam and the entire Queen family.
Charlie Brown
Washington DC
May 16, 2019
May 16, 2019
There is no way to describe Sam other than he was truly God’s gift to humanity. Many people past, present, and in the future have, are, and will benefit from his knowledge. As a dear friend of mine said, I will see you soon Sam, and what a reunion it will be.
May 16, 2019
May 16, 2019
Betty, many blessings to you. I know Sam is in a wonderful place once again. It was a privilege to be educated by him and to work for him in the early millennium in Colorado Springs. I will continue to use what he taught me to help those now and in many future years to come.
May 6, 2019
May 6, 2019
I just heard of this great loss to all of us who have had the chance to know Sam...What an inspiration and truly a man on a mission of health and wellness...He will be deeply missed, but his work will continue to inspire all of us...my deepest condolences to his family and of all the lives he has touched...
May 5, 2019
May 5, 2019
Dear Betty,
I'm so sorry to hear that Sam's gone from this earth. He made such huge contributions to peoples' lives and to advance how health care is practiced. I loved working with him and our crew in Colorado Springs. I'll fondly remember the conferences, high teas we had all over the country, his sharp intellect, compassion, and his great stories and jokes. They're lucky to have him in Heaven.
Love, Leigh
May 4, 2019
May 4, 2019
Sam Queen was an employer of mine in the late 1980's and early 1990's. He encouraged me to write a book which I did. I entitled the book "The Law & Mercury-Free Dentistry." It was a moderate success because of the influence Sam had on others. Sam was a friend of mine as well as an employer. His Christian beliefs were important in my life. I did not have much contact with Sam and Betty after I moved to Washington state. But they remained in my heart and my mind over the years! Betty, I am so sad for your loss and I grieve with you. Sam was an exceptional human being and I'm so glad I had the chance to get to know him and work with him and you both! God bless you.
May 3, 2019
May 3, 2019
Sam our dear friend and mentor will be remembered for his quiet, dry sense of humor. For those of us that knew him his humble comforting smile somehow masked his thoughts that were well ahead of the present conversation. His superior intelligence was routinely recalled every time we asked  “Sam how did you you know that?” His love of the Lord was rare in the life of a scientist and his work proclaimed this ministry. An upbeat mood in the review of findings and positive attitude in consultations reflected a heart of love and encouragement. Sam’s focus on “Designed to Win” helped clarify the Creator’s magnificent intention.  Tom and Mary Jane Waltemate
May 2, 2019
May 2, 2019
RIP dear Sam,
Thank you for all you gave for so long to so many.
I'm in shock. Lots of the pioneers gone now. Please say Hi to Hal Huggins for me if you see him on the other side. You are and will be very missed. Condolences to Sams family
Francene x
May 2, 2019
May 2, 2019
Dear Betty and family,
We are so sorry to learn of your recent loss. Sam was such a great asset and his contributions made an indelible mark on so many of our lives. He shared his
talents that God gave him and we are very thankful that our paths crossed in this life. I see in this photo that Sam was looking up. We are looking up as well and look forward to seeing him again in our long home. Please accept our sincerest condolences. He will be greatly missed.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joe, Sherry and Trey Mason
(Elina and John Alexander Mason, too)
May 2, 2019
May 2, 2019
My wife was in her 20's suffering from years of angioedema and urticaria taking daily epinephrine injections. She had a miserable daily life. Sam diagnosed and treated her for mercury poisoning and saved her life and future for nearly 50 years and still going. 
Thanks and Good Bye, Sam
May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019
Sam will be greatly missed. I'm alive because of him. I was diagnosed with terminal mercury poisoning in 1993 and Sam took me under his wing and spent the next 8 years helping me to overcome the hell I was in.  Sam inspired me to go on to becoming a naturopath and follow his health model for my clients.  I'm forever greatful and will sincerely miss him. Blessings to his family!
May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019
It was such a pleasure to work for Sam and Betty for 12 years. Oh the memories. I will always treasure my time with Sam and miss him deeply.
April 30, 2019
April 30, 2019
The first time I met Sam was at a 2002 IAACN workshop on "Bioterrorism" in NYC. He certainly came across as someone who marched to the beat of his own drummer. Sam's sharp intellect, breath of knowledge, and humble manner impressed me deeply. Over the ensuing years, we had stimulating conversations spruced up by his sense of humor. It was an honor and a pleasure to share committee work with Sam as IAACN Board members, and to get to know him better. In sharing details of his intricate life trajectory, Sam showed me admirable consistency between his views and his actions. He is an icon to those of us who believe in the pursuit of good health, and in empowering each person to design his/her own program.
April 30, 2019
April 30, 2019
Peace be with you dear friend and mentor. I cannot think of you without a smile on my face. We laughed together and teased each other. You were always available to talk about a patient or a basketball game and both with the same fervor and delight. You have altered the path of my career; the health of my patients and my family and even a few of my colleagues. You are loved and will be missed.
   My condolences to your family.
April 29, 2019
April 29, 2019
I first heard about this legendary nutrition biochemistry guru on a listserv. Those who learned from him had this extraordinary ability to discern lab testing that informed their clinical treatment of patients.  Sam Queen was this secret treasure among those "in the know", and it was evident that he had his own "Sam's Club" I had to meet him!
My husband, Roger, and I enjoyed our in-depth biochemical pathway conversations, then Sam would zoom it to higher levels. We loved spending time with Betty and Sam in Celebration in 2015. We were honored and moved to be at his home on Easter to say goodbye while he warmly welcomed us and wrote us many notes of wisdom. Thank YOU, Sam, for enlightening our lives. With Love, Coco & Roger
April 28, 2019
April 28, 2019
”What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller
Thinking of you, Betty!

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Recent Tributes
October 18, 2020
October 18, 2020
I have always been frustrated reading blood chemistries, because they never measure actual 'tissue levels' which seem to be a much more important diagnostic tool. After hearing about Sam Queen from David Luce, M.D., I decided to attend Sam's seminar in Manitou Springs, CO back in 2009. After hearing Sam's story about his exposures to mercury and his related sickness, I was amazed at his knowledge of both clinical medicine and environmental medicine, so the entire weekend was spent asking as many questions as possible and trying to assimilate all the information Sam presented.
After hearing about Sam's passing a week ago, I felt a huge shock and that transformed into a deep sadness; I always wished our education systems were  all taught by teachers with Sam's level of intelligence and wisdom, instead of others purely driven by profit and misinformation, which is exactly what we are seeing now with this Covid insanity. I wish more than ever Sam was here to point out the falseness of the 'viral contagion' theories with his beautiful smile and his perfect Southern sense of humor. I love you Sam, and I will never be able to thank you enough for your commitment to honesty and truth in every aspect of scientific research. Peace on your journey into the infinite my brother.
January 24, 2020
January 24, 2020
Sam was such a great teacher and mentor for me early in my career as a dentist.  He was the first to ever mention the idea of a dentist becoming a "dental physician", which really struck my interest in order to better understand dental disease and how to approach the care of a patient, rather than just being a tooth mechanic. His science was spot on, and he always had a simple way to present the data and the research. His greatest body fo work to me was the "Subclinical Defects" and how human biology works in and integrated way.  Utterly brilliant.  Oh how I wish the medical and dental community would have seen him for his brilliance. But his work will always live within those he touched. And for this I am forever grateful, and will continue to be inspired by my fond memories of him. Including playing drums together.   RIP Sam. 
October 28, 2019
October 28, 2019
Betty - Bill and I are just learning about Homer's death.  As you can imagine Bill is sad to learn that his good high school friend has passed this life into another more beautiful one.  He has such fond memories and we are both thinking of you and sending our thoughts. 
Recent stories

Cousin Sam Story

April 28, 2019

Me being married to Chuck Shelton, Sam’s cousin, allowed me to hear stories of young Sam and Chuck and some of the experiences they had growing up together.   One of my favorites was the time they decided to do a marketing survey to see which beverage was the best seller.  They did this by going to service stations and collecting the bottle caps from the drink coolers.   Then they lined the various caps up in rows on the front porch.  They had a perfect graph of the results from the best selling beverage down to the least.  They were both enterprising and business minded even as young boys. Their relationship was always so close and interestingly enough both ended up with health and nutrition as their focus, with Sam in the research area and Chuck in the marketing end. It is sweet to think of Chuck and Sam together again in Heaven.  

Sam, without a doubt,  entered Heaven’s gates hearing, “Well done thou good and faithful servant”, and what a remarkable life he lived.   Brilliant, but with a quiet humble spirit, he touched lives in such a positive way and I know his life‘s work will continue through individuals who have been taught and inspired by him.  And speaking of inspiring, Sam and Betty were always cheering me on after Chuck’s death.   So thankful for and proud of our Cousin Sam and Betty I love you so much. God bless you and all the family. 

How Homer Became "Sam"

April 29, 2019

I had forgotten the details, but just came across Sam's handwritten explanation this evening:

" 'Sam' was a name assigned to me by chance. People in the egg industry in the 1960's looked to one person in Chicago to establish the daily price of eggs 'on the street'. His name was Sam and I was assigned the job of phoning Sam each morning to get a base price. Soon, people referred to me as 'Sam'. I hesitated to keep the name, but being a fan of writer Charles Dickens...the character Sam Weller seemed fitting of my own character. So, 'Sam' it became."

(For anyone who didn't know, Sam traded eggs in the 1960's.)

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