William "Bill" Sampson III, 72, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on July 13th, 2025.

Born on November 3rd, 1952, Bill was the son of Winifred and William Sampson II. He had a long and successful career as a veterinarian technician and Head Zookeeper at the Buttonwood Park Zoo. He had incredible knowledge, intuition, and passion for working with animals. He is most notably remembered for his leadership and mentorship of colleagues at the zoo, and his dedication to and exceptional care of two elephants, Ruth and Emily.

Bill was known for his hobbies including hiking, fishing, hunting, relaxing at the beach, reading, watching movies and nature documentaries, and telling stories from his life. He was a stoic man who was always learning and thinking about nature and our responsibility to preserve and protect the environment.

Bill is survived by his wife, Susan, daughters Ianthe and Gilly, sister Kathleen, brothers Edward and Richard, grandchildren Scarlet, Nevaeh, and Joseph, and his mother, Winifred.

At Bill's request, there will be no funeral services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Buttonwood Park Zoo at www.bpzoo.org.

We will miss Bill deeply and will always remember his strength, kindness, and his dedication helping animals.

For memorial register, please visit www.newdayfunerals.com