My condolences to Sam's family. I first met Sam when he walked into The Sutter Resource Library, a medical library open to the community, in Midtown Sacramento.   He became a regular patron and over time I got to know him and was so impressed that I encouraged him to become one of our volunteers.   He was about 22 at that time.   What a gift he was to our library, fitting right in with our family of dedicated volunteers.    Eventually I hired him, joining our small library staff.   Sam brought so much loving kindness to all of us and our patrons and hospital staff.   We were sad to lose him to a promising library position with Sac Public, but also glad for him and his own personal growth.  He always kept in touch with us over the years, including some of us in lots of amazing things he was always doing.   He is always in my heart.

I knew Sam when he was a boy. We first crossed paths in the winter of his 9th year, and my 19th and he felt less like a kid and more like a peer because of his insight, intelligence, and emotional maturity. He excelled at school and was highly adept at anything he put his energy and focus into. He was incredibly kind, thoughtful, funny as heck and SO cool, rocking a majestic mop of blond curls, always down to watch Matt Groening cartoon, or demolish you at your game of choice.

He was centerpiece of every room. Not because he commanded that presence with performance. We all gravitated toward him because his energy and physical presence was brilliant and magnetic.

My deepest condolences to his family and anybody else who was touched by the radiance and purity of his light.

Goodnight sweet prince, may you find peace in the great beyond.