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5 Entries
Doug Stevenson
November 20, 2023
Sam and I had art class together in high school my sophomore year. Sam was inclined to arrive to class late. (Maybe he worked mornings helping his dad?) Anyway, Mark Kregg and I would greet his arrival by singing -- "Sam Elia! Sam Elia! Sam Elia!" -- think 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's Messiah. Sam always blushed, smiled, and gently shook his head. What a warm heart and generous spirit. We reconnected on Facebook about 7 years back, and he has been very supportive of me and my writing, driving miles to see me perform and just last May drove all the way to the northwest suburbs to take me to lunch. A better, sweeter friend I have never had. To Joan, who Sam spoke of glowing, and Sam's brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews, I feel your heartache. And yet, just in this moment I smiled remembering some of the texts I sent Sam as he sat patiently at Soldier Field watching his very mercurial and unpredictable Chicago Bears play. (I had a standing invitation to join him there.) And, unlike so many of us, he never complained. He was such a sweet soul, with the sensitive heart of the artist he was -- He shared his music with me. It is great and he was humbly proud of it. My thoughts are will all of Sam's loved ones today gathered at Katherine Legge.
Cheryl Townsend
November 18, 2023
RIP My dear friend. Will forever be in my heart.
Justin Kraft
November 14, 2023
He was a good guy!
Cyndi Kraft
November 14, 2023
Meeting Sam at a convention in Chicago in 1969. We soon became good friends and he drove to Wis. every weekend to play his guitar and sing "Bridge Over Troubled Waters for my mother. In 1970 he moved me to Evanston Il., where I began my career in medicine. We have always been best buddies right to the end. Will miss you Sam!
RIP
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Cyndi Kraft
November 14, 2023
Sam, I always referred to you as my big Brother, you were always there for me, as I was for you. Rest in eternal peace. ♥CK
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