This week the Crandall University community mourns the passing of Dr. Samuel J. Mikolaski in Washington, DC, at the age of 103.
“Dr. Sam,” as he was affectionately known, served as president of Atlantic Baptist College (ABC) from 1980-1983. Though his time was brief as the head of the school that would one day become Crandall University, the legacy that he left would pave the way for the institution to become what it is today.
Born in Serbia in 1923 (then Yugoslavia), Mikolaski emigrated to Canada at four years of age. An avid scholar passionate about Christian theology, he earned degrees from the University of Western Ontario, the University of London (UK), and the University of Oxford (UK), going on to publish a great many works through his career and well into his retirement.
Before coming to ABC to serve as president, Dr. Sam taught at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, served as Principal of the Baptist Leadership Training School in Calgary, and then taught at North American Baptist Seminary in South Dakota.
It was under his leadership that ABC was granted authorization from the Province of New Brunswick to award bachelor’s degrees. Though only one degree was offered at the time (Bachelor of Arts), gaining provincial authorization laid a foundation to be built upon with the move to the Gorge Road and the addition of more degrees at Atlantic Baptist University, to the eventual addition of graduate degrees under the Crandall University Act of 2010. Because of this legacy, Crandall currently offers 10 degrees with dozens of program options.
Following his time at Crandall, Mikolaski went on to teach at Carey Hall in Vancouver until his retirement, at which point he moved to California, where he continued his academic pursuits while teaching part time at Fuller Theological Seminary and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
“Dr. Sam was incredibly passionate about both academics and ministry, and he brought that passion with him to ABC in a way that left a permanent imprint on this institution,” said Dr. Bruce Fawcett, President and Vice Chancellor. “He will be dearly missed, but we are thankful that, today, we are a part of the enduring work that he carried out when he answered the call to serve as President.”
