'Sammy, May You Rest in Peace, My Friend'

By Hillary Anderson

Members of the Ursinus community came together in the college’s football stadium Monday night to grieve a loss of one of their own – Sam Morgan.

Sam died unexpectedly on Friday, March 3, 2012. He was 21.

Sam attended Ursinus College after graduating from high school, serving the Bears football team as an important part of the defensive line and adding to the campus community with his “infectious smile” and his unbreakable spirit, according to head coach Peter Gallagher.

Sam joined a fraternity, Delta Pi Sigma, at Ursinus and quickly shared his “happy-go-lucky” attitude with his brothers. “He made that year of pledging one of the funniest I have ever experienced,” said his fraternity brother Liam Marston. “I am proud to have had the opportunity to call him my brother.”

Being a football teammate and a fraternity brother were not the only outlets Sam found for his big personality and love of others at Ursinus, and his life touched many in the community. While Sam went on to fall in love with the lovely Sara Romaine and later moved to Bryant University in Rhode Island to be closer to her, he left a lasting impact at Ursinus that could not be ignored.

Students began filing into Patterson field’s stadium seating at 9:30 p.m. Monday, preparing for the 10 p.m. memorial. The process was a silent one – hundreds of students finding their seats without making a sound. Greek organizations, sports teams and those Sam impacted without the organizational meeting filled the stadium and left respect resounding from the bleachers.

After a brief video memorializing the young student’s life, head football coach Peter Gallagher welcomed students and opened discussion by talking about the remarkable student and the impact he left. “When you met him, you just knew you wanted to be associated with him,” said Gallagher. He talked about Sam’s enthusiasm and the passion he had for everyone around him. “There wasn’t a day Sam wasn’t ready for football… for, whatever.”

Sam was not just a team player; he gave his teammates the inspiration and motivation they needed to carry on. Team representative Keith Baker said his hard work and dedication set the tempo for the team every day. Baker noted that, even though the team has lost a member of its family, the drive for excellence Sam instilled during his time as an Ursinus Bear will never be forgotten. As a poignant poster on the fence read, “Once a bear, always a bear.”

Close friend Matt Watson and girlfriend Sara Romaine were also on the list of speakers during the memorial, both emphasizing the importance of passion and appreciation for the present. Watson was “at a loss for words,” but did say that Sam taught him to “do the things you love with intense passion.”

Sara followed similarly, saying Sam “taught me to smile and laugh like I never had before, how to lead a full life, and that people are all that really matter.” Sara advised everyone to live as Sam did, and never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love him or her and that you care.

Gallagher gently closed the ceremony with, “Sammy, may you rest in peace, my friend.”