Its not a dream...its a very bad dream that is reality

The first day of 2010 has such promise to be a wonderful start to the new year.   My family was rocked by the sudden-unexpected death of my Brother-in-Law Sam.  Sam and my sister have been married for 26 years.  It was obvious to anyone who knew or met them, that they loved each other very much.  We all loved Sam.  He was a good man who was always ready to gave a helping hand, was there to give good advice, or just there to listen.

The last time I saw Sam, was on Christmas Eve.  My sister was sick with a cold but told Sam to come and visit us at my sister's house for dinner.  It was good to see Sam and although our visit time was short, it was good to have Sam there.  That day, Sam and I reminisced about the 1984 Olympics.  I was 18 and just graduated from High School.  Sam and Linda were newlyweds by about a year or so at the time.  Since Sam was a UCLA alumni, he and my sister Linda took me and I believe my younger sister Valerie to Westwood to walk around the Olympic grounds.  He was a very good tour guide and was telling us the history of the campus and all of the interesting things to see.  He was also a very good guard as some of the athletes hovered around my younger sister and I, as we were getting their autographs.  It was a fun night and I had a great time with Sam and my sisters.  That is one of my many memories of Sam that I have and will treasure as I still have those autographs from that day.

Sam was a part of our family for a very short 28-29 years.  Both his and our families are very saddend by this sudden loss.

1958 - 2009

Rest In Peace Sam!