Michael Samson "Sam" Sainsbury

1998 - 2025

Powhatan, Va. - Captain Michael Samson "Sam" Sainsbury left this world way too early Feb. 19, 2025, in Wiesbaden, Germany. He was a much beloved husband, son, and brother and the spark of life to all who knew him. He was the son of Michael E. Sainsbury, formerly of Pawcatuck, and his wife Laura, who reside in Powhatan, Virginia. Born in Charlottesville, Va., June 10, 1998, to an Army family, Sam grew up in Alaska, Washington, D.C., West Point, New York, and central Virginia.

He graduated from Goochland High School in 2016, where he ran cross-country, played tennis, was a leader in the Marine Corps Junior ROTC program, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 710. Sam attended Montana State University where the real-life shaping events happened for him. He studied environmental sciences, earned a scholarship with the MSU ROTC, and met the love of his life, his future wife Aviel Lee. His other love was the breathtaking beauty of the mountains and rivers of Montana. He climbed mountains in the summer and snowboarded down them in winter.

Sam was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant infantry officer in the U.S. Army in May 2020, and went on to become an Airborne Ranger. Sam and Aviel shipped out to Hawaii, where Sam served in leadership positions as an infantry platoon leader and infantry company executive officer in the 25th Infantry Division. While in Hawaii, Sam took up surfing, spear fishing and paragliding. He also travelled to Japan, bombed around on motorcycles in Vietnam, and did Army missions in the Philippines and Fiji.

Sam leaves behind his wife Captain Aviel Lee of Morrison, Colo.; his parents, Michael and Laura Sainsbury; and his siblings, Clara, Lainey and Ethan; and his birth mother Lisa Sainsbury. He also leaves behind dozens of cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends from all over.

Sam packed more living into 26 years than most do in a lifetime. His smile, his laugh, his wit, his charm, and his never-ending sense of adventure endeared him to all who knew him. He leaves an unfillable hole in our hearts. Sam's Celebration of Life will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 14, at the Woody Funeral Home, 1771 North Parham Road, Richmond, Va. All are welcome.