Updated August 6, 2008

USA Veterans Fencing embraces fencers over 40, whether they want to compete internationally, nationally, or locally, train for fitness, or just fence to have fun. USA Veterans Fencing recognizes the growing ranks of older fencers, women and men who are valuable assets to the sport of fencing and to the United States Fencing Association.

We have fun --- but we keep score!

2008 Team for Veterans World Championships Oct. 1 thru 5 in Limoges, France

(Participants listed under News; Tournament Information listed under International Competitions)

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The fencing community has lost a very dear friend, mentor, and fencer this past week.

Sam Senior was born on October 22, 1929, in Long Beach, California. Sam grew up in Connecticut. He began fencing at the age of 15. Sam continued his fencing training in Germany at the Darmstadt Fencing Club. Sam was a long-standing member of the Oregon Division, a past director of the U. S. Fencing Center Foundation (now known as the Oregon Fencing Alliance), and a member of the Northwest Fencing Center. Sam was very instrumental in teaching and promoting fencing in Oregon in the early years and with the development of the two largest fencing clubs there.

If you had the pleasure to meet or fence Sam, you realized instantly his love for the sport. His daughter Janet noted that "he always had a big smile when he was able to beat a young fencer on the strip, but he was equally proud when one of them fenced a great bout (against someone else!) He loved the romance, precision, skill, strategy, and competition of fencing."

In addition to fencing, Sam was a mountain climber and was passionate about Formula 1 racing and languages. He climbed the Matterhorn in the early 1950s while serving in the air force in post-war Germany. He spoke and wrote German, Spanish, Russian, and Japanese.

Sam is survived by his wife Priscilla, his son Russell, his daughters Janet and Sally, and grandsons Henry and Peter. He is also survived by three siblings. A service is being planned, but the date has yet to be determined. If you wish to send a condolence card to the family, please direct them to the attention of Suzanne Marx at Une Touche de Portland, Inc., 7825 SW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97219.