Stories

I remember liking Sam from the minute Aubrey introduced him to us. He was genuinely interested in those around him, and his enthusiasm for his friends was tangible. He was quick to begin calling me “Marge,” and he gave the best hugs. Sam brought the sunshine with him into every room, and the world is a dimmer place without him in it. – Margo Sweany

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I always think of Sam when I play golf and I will forever. I've played a few times with him, and he always believed in my potential, as crazy as it may seem. Seeing me putt, he noticed how poorly I was doing. He made me adjust: lighter preparation of my swing, bigger finish of the swing, and the ball rolling more straight. Every time I putt (which happens a lot when golfing), I always hear him voice telling me how to do it. And it works! Thanks to Sam, I got my very first birdie ever. I will miss playing with him, but I will always be playing with him every single time I putt. – Clem Curet

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Sam and I always bonded over being from the Northeast, and I loved watching Patriots games with Sam. I'll never forget watching the Pats win the Super Bowl at Aubrey and Sam's party in 2017. His enthusiasm and pride in where he was from was infectious. He always made me feel like I had a reminder of home in Colorado, and I loved sharing stories with him about being raised in New England. – Caitlin McGarry

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I'll never forget how much Sam would light up when we talked about something (or someone) he was passionate about – whether it was golf, Phish, or Aubrey. His joy was contagious. I loved chatting with him and feeling the enthusiasm he felt. – Lisa Hughes

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It may sound silly, but I think of Sam every time I am chopping peppers – which is often. Years ago, when a group of us were vacationing in the mountains, we were cooking dinner, and I was chopping peppers in (what I now know) was a very inefficient manner. Sam took the time to show me how to properly chop the peppers, and I think about him every time I do it now. It is a small thing, but that is how Sam was. He was always the first to help or the first to offer a kind word or encouragement. He was a good friend, and I will miss him. – Matt Troop

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Sam and I have participated in many crazy experiences together. Some stories we'd both, admittedly, be proud of, and others less proud. I know Sam would want both shared, but I'll start with one he'd be proud about. Sam and I decided to get together in March of 2011. We were both bored and so he made the trek from Charlotte down to Stowe and I drove over from Lake Elmore to meet him at the Mt. Mansfield base lodge. I don't remember this specifically, but it doesn't matter - I just know Sam did it because he was Sam. I'm sure he got out of his car and said, "Well hey there old boy!" - hand extended for a classic Sam Titus handshake. Man, he had a good handshake! While there were many things he excelled at, hand shaking was at the top of the list. He made you feel like you really knew him, wore his heart on his sleeve, and got right into the meat of how he was feeling within the first five minutes of any conversation. I'll miss that. I'll miss that a lot. He just understood that talking "on-the-real" was fundamental to creating a good relationship - whether it was talking about the tough stuff, or raucously laughing about the good stuff (Side note, Sam would say "I could go for a little Kenny!" right here). I'm sure I said, something like "Hey there Cap, good to see ya!". And from there it was on. It was cold as shit that day, but we strapped on our boots, took my snowmobile and started up the mountain. Our plan was to get up to the top of Smugglers Notch, one would ski down and in our words, "shred it!" The experience couldn't have been more opposite, hah. The snow was powder dry, not well packed, and the road to Smugglers wasn't really steep enough to ski. In our minds it was going to be epic. In real life, the outcome was marginal. We both took a couple cracks apiece at skiing the road, but ended up settling for great conversation at the Mt. Mansfield base lodge bar over a couple pints of Labatt Blue Lights. Or, as Sam liked to call them, LBC's. Sam had to use the bathroom on the way out, so I told him I'd meet him out at his car. When I made it there, I wrote a message on his filthy Audi station wagon: "I wish my girlfriend" on the left side of the back windshield, and "...was this dirrty." on the right side! He couldn't stop laughing. What a moment. The memory fades after that. Maybe the pictures I scrounged up from facebook and my old hard drives don't tell the rest of the story. But it was a hell of day, among many spent with Sam. Here's to shitty snow and LBC's, ol' Sammy boy. I'm sure they've got some LBC's in the fridge up there, and they're playing "The Good Stuff" on repeat. -Seth Hosking

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I loved having talks with him. He was intense and curious as a student. He was too hard on himself when things weren't perfect, and we talked about being a learner...that we're always learning. Let's not have "perfect" as the goal. Let's just do better. He threw a blistering fastball as a pitcher, for he was a large, strong high school student. He hit the ball hard. They didn't keep the stats then like they do today, but the speed of the ball off his bat must have been over 100 mph. The "ping"of the aluminum bat ringed in my ears seemingly long after he connected. Now, he didn't run very fast, so some of his hits probably could have been doubles or triples, yet what he lacked in speed he made up with "smarts." He was a gentleman and a man with a strong handshake and a huge heart. He was a student no teacher could forget. God only made one Sam Titus. I loved how much his mom and dad adored him and his brother. Please let all his family know that I'll do whatever is needed to help--now and in the future. I will keep Aubrey and Jack in my thoughts and prayers.

-Marc-Andre LaChance, English Teacher, CVUHS

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I don't really know how to say this. Hearing about Sam was like a
lightning strike. You never anticipate hearing news of this magnitude.
Once you hear it, your whole understanding of the world is in a sort of
flash-bang state. Everything is dazed, confused, and you are not really
sure how to process what you've just been told. We had a really close
group of friends in college and Sam was a big part of that crew. He was
never flashy. Never causing problems. Just a rock solid friend who was
always there. Someone who never announced his entrance, but who's
presence was missed if not in the room. He could be soft spoken but his
conversations were open, honest, and engaging. After all these years
that never changed. As time and distance spread our group apart, I
always marveled how easy it was to just just talk to him. We'd see each
other at a wedding or reunion and it would feel like we were right back
in senior year, sitting on the back stoop of the townhouses catching
up. That's what I'm holding on to. Those quet moments that on paper
seemed nondescript. Because if you were lucky enough to call Sam your
friend, they were anything but that.

-Jason Coudray

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Sam and David were my students, each for two years, when they were ages 6 to 8; but they were so much more. Their parents are dear friends of mine, so I watched both the boys grow, not only as they moved through the 8 years at CCS, but to this day

Sam remained the same generous of heart man, that characterized him as a little boy and adolescent. People of all ages wanted to be Sam’s friend...just as when he was a little kid. He had a charisma and warmth early on that invited, without reservation, a multitude of others into his space.

His family was his all. Aubrey, lil’ Jack, Brenda, Tracy and his forever friend and brother, David, were his pride and joy, always close to his heart. It was such a delight to watch him banter back and forth with them, effortlessly using his innate wit and charm.

When Sam smiled, we all smiled. His eyes twinkled, often with mischief behind them. That radiance lives still in the bright grin and twinkling eyes of his little boy, Jack. Just like his Daddy, when he smiles...we all smile.

We already miss you, Sam. Peace is your blessing.
So much love to each of you and to our Sam,
Rookie Manning

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Sam and I were both huge Bruce Hornsby fans. Among other things we bonded over, Sam was passionate about so much and “all in” for whatever he did. I'll miss him and can’t believe that he is gone. He was larger then life and someone I had such a huge amount of respect and admiration for in his heartfelt and “real” response to everything life threw at him. So I’ll just simply share these lyrics that he loved:

The song came and went
Like the times that we spent
Hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent
I laughed and she'd smile
It would last for awhile
You don't know what you got till you lose it all again

Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

A cool evening dance
Listening to the bluegrass band takes the chill
From the air 'til they play the last song
I'll do my time
Keeping you off my mind but there's moments
That I find, I'm not feeling so strong

Running down by the lake shore
She did love the sound of a summer storm
It played on the lake like a mandolin
Now it's washing her away again

The boat's steaming in
I watch the side wheel spin and I
Think about her when I hear that whistle blow
I can't change my mind
I knew all the time that she'd go
But that's a choice I made long ago

Love,

Catie Waterman

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From the moment I met Sam, we became close friends. We bonded over being New Englanders and spent countless hours talking about anything and everything. We discussed philosophy, meditation, politics, the Patriots among many other things. He frequently asked me to teach him about yoga. One of the funniest stories I remember him sharing with me was when he showed up to a yoga class, shirtless, because he thought it was a hot yoga class. The teacher looked at him and laughed as Sam practiced in the cold studio, half naked. He was such a joy to be around and made everyone around him feel heard and seen. Sam loved Aubrey with his whole heart and his heart grew bigger with the arrival of Jack. We planned to build a commune that we could raise our kids in together. I hope to still build that commune some day. I miss you, Sam. I will miss our chats, your jokes, and your bright spirit. -Susan Dalen

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Some of my most treasured musical experiences came from jamming above the garage with David, Luke, and Sean. Sam would often come up and join us, and after walking around and saying Hi to each of us individually, he would find a comfy spot on the couch, crack a beer, and listen for an hour or so. After we would finish, he would offer up some simple yet pointed comment like "I liked that middle part". At the time not knowing Sam very well, it felt so unbelievably cool that David's older brother Sam was willing to not only spend time with us, but that he also genuinely enjoyed the music we were making. His presence those nights contributed so much to the development of my confidence and creativeness as a musician, and after getting to know him better through the years, I came to realize that where ever Sam went, he always extended that same gracious, welcoming presence to everyone. He'll forever be someone I look up to, and someone I'll deeply miss.

- Greg Pauza

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I met Sam when he and I were both students at SLU, and both worked in the student phonathon program. Through the program, we got to be good buddies. I graduated one year before Sam, and in the summer after I graduated (which was the summer before Sam’s Senior year) I took a job as the Director of the program, which made me Sam’s boss for the year that followed. What I knew intuitively from having been his peer became much more obvious from the viewpoint of the program director; Sam had an amazing effect on the morale of the team. Cold-call fundraising, as you can imagine, is a very difficult job. If the caller has a chipper attitude, it makes a big difference in how successful they are, but the act of cold-calling makes a cheerful attitude very difficult to maintain.

As an individual caller, Sam was…fine. He did great when he actually spoke with someone, but he had a lot of side conversations with the other callers and wasn’t necessarily the most efficient at moving from one call to the next. What he brought to the table was the effect he had on the overall morale of the team. He was beloved by the people he worked with, and had a palpable effect on the overall stress level of the room. In what was often a pretty miserable job, Sam managed to spread a lot of joy.

Spreading joy seems to have been Sam’s superpower. At close range, such as the ‘Calling All Saints’ office, his power was strong enough to pierce the thick haze of misery that wafted through the dreary basement offices like a cloud of cigar smoke. On the other hand, outside on a sunny day, his power was like a radio broadcast tower. As I’ve been reflecting on Sam this week, I keep having these little memories come back I hadn’t thought of in years…just brief encounters, the details have faded leaving only the emotional silhouettes…but a repeating pattern; having big belly laughs from a quip he made as we crossed paths on opposite sides of the quad. Very few people can project joy at that range. If he emerged anywhere on the horizon line he brightened your day.

As I continue to reflect I may have more, but I’ll leave it there for now. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share.

-Denny

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It was and is my pleasure and honor to have taught both Sam and his brother, David, during their middle school years at Charlotte Central School. That also meant that I got to know their wonderful parents, Brenda and Tracy. What a beautiful family.

Sam made me smile every time he came into the classroom. He possessed a wonderful combination of attributes - quiet humor, seriousness, kindness and conscientiousness - that will endear him always. To his friends, he was loyal, steady, and fun-loving. As a student, he was unfailingly respectful and invested in his studies. A 7/8 classroom is an interesting environment, made up of young people who are navigating a pretty intense stage of life. All kinds of personalities interact in lively ways. Sam was a fun, stable influence among his peers. So yes, Sam’s presence made both his classmates and teachers smile.

My heart goes out to Sam’s family.

With love,

Leslie Williams

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My older brother played CCS baseball with Sam and sometimes I would hang around after school and watch them play. CCS usually didn't have winning sports teams because Charlottes a small town, but CCS actually had a really good baseball team that year and Sam was a big reason why. There wasn't a fence on the CCS field. If there had been a fence, Sam would have hit many home runs that season because I remember him regularly hitting balls all the way to slide, which to a fourth grader made him seem like superman. Even though Sam was clearly the best hitter on the team, he wasn't the fastest runner and would sometimes only get a double out of his big hits. That's what I remember about Sam, watching him play baseball and hit the ball really far.

-Patrick Ittleman

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Sam was the best son-in-law

Many of you can relate or at least understand when I say that there is no greater feeling of joy or contentment as a parent, than when your child is loved completely by their spouse. We were fortunate to have Sam as a son-in-law.

We will never forget his love for Aubrey. The way he encouraged her, the way he boasted about her achievements, and especially the way he looked at her. They had a meaningful friendship that was palpable. Their love created a beautiful baby boy, Jack.

Sam had a genuinely kind heart and was always helpful. He was great at reading a situation and knowing when to pitch in, when to crack a joke or ask a question. I loved his curiosity. We loved talking with him about music, astronomy, nutrition; and laughing with him about anything. Conversations with Sam flowed so freely.

We are still struggling daily; this finality is difficult to accept.

As we go forward each day, we will hope to honor Sam by loving Aubrey, Jack and Ollie with even more capacity than he had. We will hope to support Sam’s family and friends in a way that would make him proud.

You will be missed every day Sam!

- Karen Ferrigno

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Some of my best memories were: Sam and Ted, David and me. We wrestled and tousled and juked. The wiffleball field was the proving ground where we could test our mettle, where I learned the meaning of a brotherly feeling. Wrestling predictably turned ugly as David or I would end up in a chokehold, but I also remember Sam as the one to always pick you up and say “good job, buddy”. Sam was always encouraging with me and a kind word here or there sticks with me to this day. An excellent reader of people, Sam recognized I was quiet and observant from an early age, an introvert (like David), and while known to be outgoing, even bubbly Sam at his core was like this, too, I think. He appreciated people for who they are, not trying to push or pull them and loved them for who they were. So many movies and artists make me think of Sam, because of the influence he had on me and Dave. Really, I learned so much from Sam and this quietly exceptional and gracious family.

-Andrew Leckerling

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When I think of Sam, I think of an inquisitive, gentle soul who brought fun, a big smile, and sometimes big philosophical questions to any conversation with him. He was a routine player of stickball at Shelburne Farms. When I was first getting to know this incredible group of friends, I learned through Sam's presence his extreme dedication to his friends and willingness to show up for others. And I learned about Bruce Hornsby from Sam. Soon after he and Aubrey moved back to Vermont, Bruce Hornsby played at the Flynn in Burlington and it was an amazing show. Even though I was not seated near Sam and his family, his excitement for the concert drifted up to us in the balcony. I always have and always will think of Sam when I hear Bruce Hornsby's music!

-Clair Stodola

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I was so sorry to read of Sam's passing. He was one of my favorite students. Intellectually, he tried everything. And he filled the room with good humor and humanity.

-Bill Mares

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As a person in the later years of life you rarely make new friends. The friends that you have, you've had forever and only occasionally does someone join your inner circle. Sam was an exception. From the first times I was with him, I realized he was deep, warm and authentic. He saw people in their best light and humbled some of my pettiness, We gathered together, drank, played golf (man he's good) and I considered all of these encounters to be meaningful and valued. I had a new friend and I hoped that he felt the same. I will always miss my friend.

-Mike Ferrigno

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(speech from service)

I am Will, and I’ve known Sam since diapers. I have so many joyful memories growing up with Sam, many of which right across the road here where I grew up. I enjoyed our time in elementary school biking around Charlotte, even the times Sam said “let’s meet halfway, at the school”, and where I and Jason ultimately ended up biking right into his dooryard to find him happily working on his next slice of French toast. “Hey Wilbur & Jas – as we walked through the door”.

A little older; when we departed ways and went to separate high schools Sam looked after me, he knew I was struggling making friends and he took me under his wing. I have this memory 20 years ago; about this time, where Sam invited me to join him for a day in the life of Sam at CVU. I don’t know if he literally had is arm around me as I walked into that school for the first time, or I was just on his coat tails… but here he was; walking down the hall with howdies, high fives, and stories. He started introducing me to all these people from other towns. “Hey Bill, and here is my good friend Dan, Dan – this is the guy I was telling you about”. It was great in the moment, and looking back… I’m like… good friend Dan? Geez, you’ve been in this new school for only 2 weeks and you have all these “Good” friends already!?” But that was Sam.

And Sam did that for everyone, including his best bud David; Sam and David got so close as they got older. I remember just recently being on the phone with Sam; the call ended as they usually did, “Can I bring David”. David and I worked together most weekends this past summer, maintaining a property on the lake nearby, the same place Sam and I worked together a lot when we were younger. Anyway… I think Sam got jealous at times and every once in a while, he’d call and ask. “Hey Bill – Maybe I’ll come over and give you and Dave a hand”. Of course I welcomed the good time, as it was not necessarily an excellent work ethic we’d get from Sam, but that moral support which I’ve learned over the years is a vital aspect to any successful project, or just good time. Anyway, Sam needed to know the task before he’d commit, I said edging and mulching, “Well… I’m not coming down for that, ok-bye.”

I remember the phone call from Sam when he found Aubrey. He said, “Hey Bill – I found a good one”. This past week I heard the story from Aubrey, their first date. They planned to meet for drinks, and upon meeting, Sam explained to Aubrey they his roommate was making some fantastic chicken wings and Sam was only available for a few drinks. Well many drinks later, conversation on all the things, laughter, they departed ways for the night, Sam en-route to chicken wings, and Aubrey starving for having had this great time with Sam with no food, she grabbed take-out on the way home!

Jack was born on February 24th, and Meg and I did not get a chance to see the little guy before COVID hit. Jack was probably a month old when we met them over a zoom or internet skype call. The first image I saw when Sam started their Video was Sam’s hairy, bare chest. It took him a few moments to get the camera refocused, but then we saw him, baby jack. Sam went on to explain to Megan and I the importance of skin to skin contact, hence the bare Sammy chest with little Jack on his stomach. Sam was in Love with Jack, grinning ear to ear. Sam was also amazed by Childbirth. He went on and on, stopping every here and there to look at Aubrey and say… “Can I tell them about the…”.

I know we have countless stories of Sam, no one story can describe what an amazing person he was. And just as Sam took care of us, I know we will all carry that tradition in Sam’s honor for Jack, Aubrey, David, Brenda, and Tracy. Aubrey wanted to make sure we keep Sam’s legacy alive; making sure Jack can get to know his Dad through these stories.

-Will Bown

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Sam was our TIAA advisor and we truly enjoyed getting to know him as he gained our trust and confidence. He was excellent in his field, one of TIAA’s very best. I told him selfishly on more than one occasion I hoped he would never leave TIAA for somewhere else. We looked forward to his towering presence, warm handshake and great smile. He always had time to talk, would patiently listen as we often got off topic, and then steer us right back to where we needed to go. I will miss him not only as a great advisor but also as a friend and delightful person. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

-Hilda Alajajian

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Given that he was older than me, I did not know Sam as well as most, but his kindness and smile have left a neverending impression in the back of my mind. From having him umpire some of our Little League games, to substituting my classes at CVU, to playing pick-up basketball at CCS, Sam was never afraid to show his loquacious side. Even though I may not recall exactly what went on in our conversations, that does not detract from the fact that they existed and will live on, relentlessly, in my memory forever.

RIP to a true angel.

-Brent Carreiro

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Sam was my financial advisor through TIAA. I always enjoyed our one on one meetings because in addition to clarifying the intricacies of the financial world Sam was a good hang. We often deviated from the numbers and accounts to discuss living in Vermont, our families, and, most recently, his son Jack and my granddaughter Marlowe who are the same age.
We had a phone meeting scheduled for October 6 that I was looking forward to because we hadn’t talked in a few months and I wanted to check in and catch up with him.
I was devastated to hear that he had died.
I offer my most sincere condolences to his wife and little Jack. I’m so sorry that Sam will not have the opportunity to raise his son, a role he clearly cherished, and that Jack will never know the wonderful man who was his father.
Rest In Peace Sam. I will remember you.

-Bill Perta

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He was a kind and gentle soul.

-Carol and Jim Huntington

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Sam is an amazing man who was loved by al. We will always remember him and the great smile he always had.

-Pam and Dick Brooks

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We all loved Sam, his gentle kindness, his beautiful smile. Sam was such a great friend to our daughter Sarah and son Chris.

-The Shackett Family

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May the memories of the sunlight in Sam's smile and the warmth of his hugs help you through these days. We will never forget his smiling face.

-Robee and Kim

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He truly gave more than he took and brightened and enriched the lives of many. Hopefully you will find some comfort in those special memories of the wonderful person he was.

-Judy and Dean

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Sam will be remembered by us as gregarious, approachable, positive, and easy to talk to when we saw him.

-Kevin and Dawn

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One freezing night at Will's apartment in Troy, NY, Sam was thoughtful enough to lend me his winter coat as a an extra blanket to keep warm. A small memory, but I'll always remember him for his softness and kindness.

-Kathryn Ferreira

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Both of us have so many fond memories of Sam during our years together at St. Lawrence and summers in Vermont after college. His one of a kind smile and warm-hearted way of being were such a joy to be around. We feel lucky to have had the time with him that we did.

-Jon and Shelly Severinghaus

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Sam will long be remembered for his kind and open spirit.

-Will and Colleen MacKinnon

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My memory of Sam as a young child is one of delight, kindness, curiosity, and full of happiness. The world is a better place having had Sam in it. It was such an honor to be part of his life.

-Kathy Lara, third grade teacher

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We will forever miss Sam’s warmth, adventurous spirit, and unending curiosity.

-Will and Ingrid

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He was such a gentle giant… clearly put on this earth to teach us about love of family, friends, and kindness.

-Colleen and Pete Brady

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We will always remember Sam as a gentle, kind soul.

-Michael and Sumuru

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He was such a special person with a smile that would light up a room. Sam was loved by so many and his presence will continue to be felt.

-Tom and Pat Clark

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I remember him as a student at CCS. Great memories, so polite.

-Peggy Coutu

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We always remember him as such a decent, thoughtful, and kind young soul.

-Whit and Meg Smith

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Sam was such a friendly and kind person.

-Mary and Ted Fisher

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We miss Sam’s unmistakable presence already and always will.

-Dan and Abby Hausermann

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We will always remember his beautiful smile and kind heart on the baseball field.

-Jan and Chris

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When you coach an athlete for three years, you learn a lot about him. Sam was more than an outstanding ball player. He was polite and respectful to all coaches with no exceptions. He was humble in victory and gracious in defeat. He was a wonderful teammate to his classmates as well as the younger players. He hustled, and was unselfish - playing multiple positions- wherever he was needed. When you combine all of these qualities and his competitive spirit, and that grin he would flash, you had Sam. It was my privilege to be his coach.

-Tom and Clara Nold

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I can tell you that he was a wonderful boy and man that made me feel happy in his presence. Maybe it was a wave at the farm, riding behind a mower, or more recently at LaVilla. He was friendly and so happy to see us in March, and excited for the future, and his baby. He will be remembered in story and song for a long time.

-Jan and Tom Heilmann

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We will always remember him as a kind, thoughtful, athletic, smart, and sensitive young man. We are grateful for the opportunity to have known him.

-AnneMarie and Brady

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I remember Sam as a blue eyed toe head in elementary school, so full of life. I watched his celebration of life and was really struck with how many close friends he kept though his middle and high school years and beyond.

-Leslie Thayer

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This loss is massive, and the response from friends, family, and classmates is just testament to how great and beloved Sam is. I’ll miss having the chance to grab a brew with Sam and Erds (“get some sodas”) when we were all in town, or see him do a joyful little shimmy to a Grateful Dead tune. I can’t believe he was willing to act in a silly web series with me about 11 years ago. It was one of those great Sam surprises.

-Jackie

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I will never forget countless memories imprinted on my soul that nourish me and console me, as I grasp life more deeply and sweetly going forward in Sam’s honor. I owe a debt of profound gratitude to the impact Sam had on me, a truly pure and soulful man who helped make me who I am.

-Mattie

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I did not know him that well, but I have such fond memories of watching him play baseball at CVU. He was always so kind, courteous, and polite. He didn’t know me, other than I was one of his teammates’ moms, but was always ready with a hello and a smile, and that twinkle in his eyes… My son Will was so fond of Sam, even though a few years younger. Sam was someone Will looked up to.

-Joyce Cameron

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I think of Sam often in my days, and most when I gaze up at the stars. Sam loved those late nights, hanging out by the fire, talking about existential ideas. I remember one story he told about canoeing with Jagger, where he said, “sometimes, after you’ve been with someone in a boat for three days, you just know each other well enough that when they start telling a story, you can tell the rest of the story for them.” I thought about that recently and thought about how profound that was, because Sam had so many friends like that- at SLU, in Vermont, in Charlotte, everywhere. His story and friendship will never be forgotten in my lifetime.

-Seth and Mariana Hosking

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Thank you for raising Sam. We’ve never felt more privileged to have a friend. Sam was special. We’re so grateful to the two of two, and to David, for making Sam into the man and friend he was. He was an incredible friend to us, and an even better husband to our dear Aubrey.

-Matt and Margo

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Since first getting to know Sam through early CCS baseball, he always struck me as a fine fellow with a good heart, and I shall always remember him that way.

-Ted

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Our images of Sam are of a person so big and so bright that he took over the room when he entered. Always inclusive, always with a story, and always with a smile. We loved the conversations that we shared with him, he was always looking for a new way to understand things. The image that will forever live in my mind of Sam is that big smile on his face as he shakes your hand .

-Robee and Kim

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I remember Sam as a great teenager, never a negative word if there was conflict. He matured into an even better young man. He was part of the CVU baseball renaissance. His class and the one before him had so much talent and depth, probably the best I saw in my years coaching. I remember him as a tough competitor both on the mound and at third. Being in the dugout when they won the D-1 championship was special to me.

-Eric (EJ) and Ginger Johnson

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Sam was my student during his senior year at CVU. I am sure that statistics was not his favorite class, but he was one of my favorite students. He always showed up with that ready smile and he worked hard.

-Ann Dutton

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I worked with Sam at LaVilla. I didn’t know Sam that long, but he changed my life. Not only did he teach me history, but he supported me in both my career and my life problems. He even gave me the nickname, “LL,” just to make me feel good. Sam was such a funny, caring, and smart young man. There was never a day I saw him that he didn’t express his love for his family.

-Libby

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Sam was one of the best people I’ve known, and I was extremely proud to be friends with him.

-Dylan Latorra

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Sam will always be remembered in my heart as the loyal, caring, and thoughtful friend that he was. I’ll never forget Sam’s contagious smile. Whether he had just made a stunning play at third base or hit a walk-off to win the game, he had this incredible smile.

-Rick Nold

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I received the wonderful gift of Sam’s friendship in Mrs. Manning’s 1st grade class. The way I remember it, he just walked up to me and said “Hey, let’s be friends” and that was it, we became brothers for life. It was that easy for Sam to draw people in and there was always room for more.

One year, when we were around 8 years old, there was a huge snow storm that dropped at least two feet of powder. One of us (I think it was me) had the idea to jump off the Titus’s back deck into the snow bank below. I landed fine, but Sam did not and broke his leg. A special 4x4 ambulance had to make its way up the driveway and they had to use my blue plastic sled to get him around the house to the ambulance. Sam spent a lot of time in a huge cast, but in no time he was flying around on his crutches. He was persistent, and he never let that accident slow him down.

Sam was a natural athlete. During touch football at recess there was never any doubt who would be the Quarterback, and I remember how excited he was when he finally learned how to pitch a splitter. Somehow his real-life skills translated to video games; he single-handedly beat the Water Temple in Zelda. That might not make any sense to many of you, but in middle school it was really something.

We loved watching historical dramas like Gladiator and Band of Brothers. For Sam, they were launching points for his mind to explore and learn. The latter inspired him to get this huge book by Stephen Ambrose on Easy Company and a flag for the 101st Airborne. Sam always put his whole heart behind the things he loved or that drove his curiosity.

Though college pulled us away during the school year, our summers in Vermont were some of the best. Sam helped get me my job on the Shelburne Farms grounds crew and showed me the ropes. That time he accidentally pulled down the old swing set at Orchard Cove while riding a Z-mower was definitely a “teachable moment” on the importance of situational awareness.

As we got older, physical distance grew between us, but our bond never faltered. Sam would call (usually on his way to play golf) just to share his random thought of the day or to tell me about his plan to source all of his food from local farmers. It meant so much that he could share the biggest and the smallest things with me.

Sam, though now there’s more than just distance between us, you’re still my best friend and my brother. With you I don’t need a Band of Brothers. I only need one.

-Will Edwards

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Watch With Me

He came to me with sun kissed hair

And ‘blue sky” eyes.

Wide open and ready….

To see and discover

A world waiting…

Waiting for Sam.

Arms around his buddies

And reaching out even further

To those seeking

The umbrella of his warmth,

Sam embraced them all

Even then…

He closed no one off

He knew,

Even then,

How to love beyond himself

Mom’s sweet treasure,

Her first-born bliss

He stole Dad’s heart,

A son so blessed

Sam grew…

And I got to follow

I watched him,

My privilege…

Six more years

Within the same walls and without

I watched as cute turned to handsome

Charm to charmer

Ahh but still…Sam…

Inclusive, kindhearted

Ever reflecting Dad’s mischief and compassion

Mom’s thoughtful, caring soul

I watched

As Sam refined his gifts,

His talents, his sports.

And those playful quips,

That wit …

The apple ...not far from Tracy’s tree

I watched

And witnessed

His pride and delight

In his little brother

And David... being “my kid” as well…

Within those same walls and without

I watched

As his admiration grew and grew

For his big brother

Never wavering …not ever.

As Sam became a young man,

I was privy to the “Sam Stories”

Knowing all along…

Sam, the little boy,

Was still within each tale told

Some things changed….

But the right things didn’t

Sam was still

The smile to our world

The light to our shadows

Soon he became

“The wanting to get it right, Sam”

And one day he did

Get it just right.

He found his heartsong

His Aubrey

And together they created

Their baby boy,

Their everlasting

Love song.

Jack is already making Dad proud.

Already a new smile,

New hope

To our worried world

Already reflecting the selfless good

That Sam brought to our lives

And because love,

Such as Sam’s,

Knows no ending

Watch with me

As this new beginning,

Sweet little Jack

Grows from a sun kissed,

Fair-haired boy,

To a warm, loving,

Spirited young man,

With his Daddy Angel

Ever by his side.

Watch with me

The power of pure love

-Rookie Manning (Sam's 1st and 2nd grade teacher)

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For days I have been trying to recall when I first met Sam, I figure it was somewhere near the 3rd grade at Charlotte Central School. We did what most kids in a small town do, played baseball, basketball, rode our bikes and so on. We also shared a common interest in the Atlanta Braves and admired how they always came on at what we referred to as "TBS" time, which was always 5 after the hour. Sam was very big into music as most of you know and he introduced me to that world. I will admit that I liked Phish for a very brief time, mainly because Sam jammed it down my throat, only to admit in the later years that I could not stomach another Phish song.

There are many great memories that I will always have of Sam. Whether it was the time he biked all the way from Charlotte to South Hero or the countless times he would call his friends while driving home. We often joked about if you did not pick up right away he would move on to someone else, he was making his rounds so to speak. I will also never forget the time when I visited him in Denver and on a whim we decided to hike a portion of Longs Peak. You may or may not know but I am not much of a hiker but Sam manipulated me into going. It was not until after the hike when everyone informed me that an extremely difficult hike and people get up at 4 am to conquer. Most do not want until 10 am after a long night of drinking to decide to go.

When Sam put his mind to it, he was all in. A few years later I had the distinct privilege to ask Sam to be my best man at my wedding. Without hesitation he said he would be honored. I asked Sam over my two older brothers because to me, he was just like another brother. For those of you that attended, he gave one hell of a speech that as Will told me was written in the car ride down. Again, that was Sam, a guy you could count on when you needed it.

Fast forward a few years later and it was Sam’s turn to get married. I had the distinct pleasure to be a groomsman and this pink tie I am wearing today is only for special occasions. Part of the reason is that I don't much care for the color but the reason today was because Sam gave it to all the groomsmen that day. That, in my opinion was one of Sam’s happiest days. Speaking of happy days I will not forget the day Sam called to tell me he was have a son. Of Course, I must have been the second or third call that day because he was in the car. I remember Sam telling me that my son Nathan was going to have a buddy to play catch with. I will always cherish our conversations whether it was one minute or one hour.

Brenda, Tracey, Aubrey, David and Jack...Sam was one hell of a friend, son, brother, husband and father. We are better people for knowing him and spending the past 34 years together.

Aubrey, anyone of us who grew up with Sam would be honored to play ball with Jack.

-Jason Winn

Please email storiesaboutsam@gmail.com to share a story or memory of Sam to be added to this website.