Samantha Lucille Spears

With deep sadness we announce the passing of Samantha (Sam) Spears, 30, of Austin, TX (formerly of Carlisle, MA) on July 7th, 2024 following a tragic motor vehicle accident. Sam was born on September 19, 1993 in Concord, MA. She was a Marine Corps Veteran, earned a BS from the University of Texas Austin, and an MPH in Public Health Leadership from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. An aspiring clinical researcher, Sam was planning to pursue an MD or PhD to continue her commitment to optimizing health care by integrating biological, behavioral, social, and policy influences.

At 18, Sam enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and distinguished herself as a leader. She traveled with the Marines throughout the United States, Japan, and South Korea. This fostered her love of traveling throughout the world, often with family and friends she met far and wide.

Sam was goofy, energetic, independent, loving, and free-spirited. She played life to her own tune and had a one-of-a-kind personality that drew people in. She sought adventure, sport, and excitement from skydiving, hiking, running, free-diving, motorcycle riding, and snowboarding. In each of these activities, she built a lasting community of like-minded adventure-seeking friends who knew that when Sam was in, she was "all-in." She had an edgier "nerd" side. Her signature was collecting oddities such as her stuffies, concert attire, onesies, and other trinkets. She also collected gear and accessories from Renaissance Faires, attending them in full regalia with her friends. Often, she would give pieces of this quirky collection a nickname, and always got a laugh when introducing them to friends. She loved Boston Sports and frequently attended NHL and NFL games with her family and close friends.

Sam is survived by her loving parents Mark and Sandra; brother Marty and his wife Gina; sister Michelle and her wife Yasmeen; sister Kristin and her husband Shane; nieces Aubrey, Arabella, Amira, and Nadia; nephews Conner, Jordan, and Jonah, many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and her dog Bonnie.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 17th at The Tavern in the Square, Burlington MA from 12:00pm - 3:00pm. (https://www.taverninthesquare.com/locations/burlington-ma/). Casual attire is encouraged, and we welcome guests to wear something fun that reminds you of Sam or celebrates her memory.

A second Celebration of Life will be held in the local Austin, TX area at a later date, coordinated by her close friends in the area and with more details to follow.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Headstrong Project (https://theheadstrongproject.org). This organization represents a cause that was significant to Sam, as Mental Health impacted many veterans close to her throughout and after her time in the service.

Til' Valhalla