Sam David Fullerton

Sammy “Sam” Fullerton, age 75, of Plymouth, passed away on January 29, 2025. Born on March 10, 1949, in Steele, Missouri, to Frances Sue Fullerton, Sam’s life was one of passion, curiosity, and dedication to both his profession and the people he loved. Sam attended Eastern High School in Memphis, Tennessee, before proudly enlisting in the United States Army in 1966. During his service, he earned his GED and later achieved a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Science from Memphis State University. He continued his academic pursuits at Michigan State University, where he studied for his Ph.D. Sam served his country with honor from 1966 to 1975, reaching the rank of Specialist 4. Following his military service, Sam built a distinguished career in academia, becoming a respected Professor of Sports Marketing at Eastern Michigan University until his retirement in 2019. His expertise and enthusiasm for research were unparalleled—he authored over 200 marketing publications and earned 22 Best Paper awards. He was also the author of the Gold Standard sports marketing textbooks. Sam had an innate ability to generate research ideas from casual conversations, always thinking ahead to the next great project. He organized more than 50 sports marketing trips, bringing students and colleagues to Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, and Cleveland Cavaliers games, sharing his love for sports in an engaging and educational way. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sam lived life with boundless enthusiasm. A true sports fan, he relished watching great teams and rivalries. He was equally passionate about theater, always joking about securing front-row center seats for the best experience. An avid bowler, he proudly achieved three perfect 300 games. His love of travel took him across the globe, with Australia holding a special place in his heart—he visited 15 times, along with trips to New Zealand and South Africa. Everywhere he went, he made lifelong friends, forming connections that spanned continents. Sam also had a deep devotion to animals, particularly his beloved cats. He never gave up on them, even famously rescuing his cat, Beamer, after he had been missing for 54 days. Sam will be dearly missed by his beloved life companion, Sandra “Sandy” Edwards; his children, Christina (Dan) Adam, Cortney (Erik) Stancato, and Nicholas Edwards. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Jacob, Logan, Connor, Ellie, and Luke. He is also survived by his sibling, Rodney Fullerton (Jeri Edge); his nephew and niece, Greg (Michiyo) Fullerton, Trish (Brett) Allison, and great nephew Mark Fullerton; as well as many cherished cousins, friends and ex-wife, Cynthia Fullerton. He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Sue, and his sister-in-law, Kathleen. In honor of Sam’s love for animals, memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Happy Hearts Feline Rescue, 10905 East Pleasant Lake Road, Manchester, MI 48158. Visitation will take place on Monday, February 3, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West (between Sheldon and Beck) in Plymouth. A funeral service will be held at the same location on Tuesday, February 4, at 10:00 AM. Sam’s legacy will live on through his family, his contributions to sports marketing, and the many lives he touched. As he often said, “That would make a good paper.” To share a memory, please use the share a memory tab on this webpage.

Sam David Fullerton

March 10, 1949 - January 29, 2025