Tipping one back for Sammy

Friends of Sammy,

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Sammy passed away, surrounded by his mom and family, and the prayers of loved ones near and far, caring for him and holding him in their hearts until the very end.

Sammy’s passing leaves a void—one that will be felt until we see him again. He was the kind of friend who was always ready to grab a drink, share a laugh, tear up the dance floor, and enjoy a great meal. As he once told me before a big Italian dinner: "We roll deep."

And just like Sammy’s love for food, we know his community rolls deep in their love and care for him. A group of us are launching this GoFundMe to support his family in the days and months ahead—helping with funeral costs, assisting his sibling who recently arrived in the U.S., and offering a small token of comfort in their immense loss.

During this time, we kindly ask that everyone respect the family’s space and refrain from asking them questions or mentioning details about arrangements. While their love for Sammy is immense, so is the weight of their grief, and we want to give them the privacy they need. If you’d like to show your support, contributing to this fundraiser or sharing a memory of Sammy is a beautiful way to do so.

We also invite you to share any photos you have of Sammy so we can help preserve his memory. You can upload them here: https://coogillama.smugmug.com/upload/9GdvNR/Upload

If Sammy brought joy to your life, we ask you to contribute what you can—whether it’s $5 or $50—to honor his memory and show his family that in losing someone so lovable, they have a community that loves them.