Samuel Peake

Samuel Redfern Peake, 36, passed away on June 10, 2025 in Clinton CT. He was a lifelong resident of the Connecticut Shoreline, graduating from Guilford High School, spending summers at the beach with his grandparents in Madison, and settling in Clinton, close to the Long Island Sound he knew as home. Sam served as a military police officer in the US Air Force, including a tour of duty in Iraq, before completing his education with a BS degree in National Security Studies from the University of New Haven. Sam's professional path took him in a different direction from his academic studies, as he built a career in the construction industry. He received a Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Construction Management and developed a specialty in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Coordination. As he built his skills, he also gained a reputation for his talents as a team builder and facilitator among diverse stakeholders. At the time of his death, he was a valued Senior MEP Coordinator for Gilbane Company, on assignment in New Haven. Sam's passions were fitness, the outdoors, and sports. He began building his resume as an "adrenaline junky" early in life, winning trophies in Motocross through his teen years. As an adult, he was an avid snowboarder, surfer, skier, fisherman, and, most recently, pickleball player. His quieter outdoor hours were spent on long motorcycle rides, hanging out on the water with friends, or pushing himself at the gym. But his most cherished moments were hiking or bicycle riding along Connecticut trails with his beloved dog Rocco. Weekend evenings found Sam photographing sunsets over the Sound, often featuring Rocco, but always with Rocco by his side. Sam's greatest strengths and gifts were friendship and empathy. As "mentor," "loyal friend," "brother," Sam touched so many lives. One of Sam's close friends remembered, "Anyone that talked to Sam for 30 minutes became a friend to him." Another shared, "Sam was fiercely loving, deeply loyal and always ready to show up for people he cared about." If he hadn't heard from a friend in a while, he'd be on the phone with "'Sup? Bro!" Sam's memory will live in the many people he held close as family, from childhood friends to Air force buddies to his professional mentors and colleagues. Sam is predeceased by his father, William (Tony) Peake. Sam lost his dad as a young boy, but his memories of his father were a touchstone throughout his life. He will be deeply missed by his mother Sally Redfern, his grandfather Sam Peake, his lifelong mentor John Fonda, as well as aunts and uncles Beth Aust, Lynn Parisi and Michael Samuels, Nancy Redfern, Robert and Wendy Redfern, Susan Nathan and his many cousins. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Friends wishing to honor Sam are invited to donate in his memory to the Connecticut Siberian Husky Rescue. Or simply reach out to a friend to connect, as Sam would do.