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It is with heavy heartsthat we share that Samuel
L. Drayo, Jr. peacefully passed away on November
11, 2026 at age 85.
Sam was a proud life-long resident of the
Village of Fredonia. He was born December 27,
1940 in Dunkirk, NY. He graduated from the Fredonia
Normal School (campus school at Old Main-kindergarten thru 8th grade) and Fredonia High School in 1958. He graduated
from Syracuse University in 1962, where he
earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He
completed courses at the Maxwell School of Citizenship
and Public Affairs. He was a 1965 graduate
of Syracuse University College of Law earning a
Juris Doctor degree.
Sam served two years in the U.S. Army from
1966-1968, attaining the rank of Captain. He was
awarded the U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement
and National Defense Service Medal. He received
an honorable discharge in 1968.
In 1968, Sam joined his Dad, Samuel L. Drayo
Sr., and twin brother, David C. Drayo, in his
family's Fredonia law practice. Sam's son, John D.
Drayo joined him in 2008 and they practiced together
for many years. Sam served as Village Attorney
for the Village of Fredonia for 47 years from
1969 to 2016 and Village Attorney for the Village
of Brocton from 2005 to 2015.
In 1984, Sam helped organize the Northern
Chautauqua County Youth Hockey Association
(Dunkirk-Fredonia Steelers) and was its first
President serving in that role for 8 years.
Sam was kind and had a generous nature and always
found time to help others with legal and personal
matters alike. He loved to laugh and had a
great sense of humor. In his later years, Sam enjoyed
researching, writing, and speaking about Fredonia
historical and civic topics, frequently publishing
pieces in The Observer. He also enjoyed traveling
and made many trips to Italy with his life
partner, Margaret C. Roberts.
He was a member of the Dunkirk-Fredonia Rotary
Club, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion
Post 59 and St. Anthony's Roman Catholic
Church in Fredonia, N.Y.
Sam is survived by his loving partner, Margaret
C. Roberts of Hamburg, NY (formerly Margaret C.
Partridge) and his two sons, Michael (Kristie)
Drayo of Phoenixville, PA and John of Fredonia,
NY. He is also survived by three beloved grandchildren,
Joshua Grant, Henry Drayo and Sadie Kathleen
Drayo and former spouse, Susan R. (Meister)
Star. He was predeceased by his twin brother, David
C. Drayo who passed in 1985 and his parents,
Samuel L. Drayo Sr. and Sadie (Mooradian) Drayo.
Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday
November 18 from 3-7 pm at LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Avenuein Fredonia. A Mass of Christian burial will be
celebrated at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church,
1032 Central Ave. Dunkirk, NY. on Thursday, November
19, 2026 at 10 am.
Sam will be laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery in
Fredonia with full military honors.
Donations in Sam's honor may be made to Northern
Chautauqua County Youth Hockey Association,
P.O. Box 442 Fredonia, NY 14063.
Online condolences may be made at
larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by
David J. Dengler.