Samuel Brice Dawe - Online Memorial Website

GOOD TIMES MY FRIEND. GO PADRES!

I’ve been Sam’s friend for the past seven years and for that I’ll be forever grateful.

 

When Sam’s father asked me to say a few words today, I thought to myself , “What am I going to say about Sam?”.  The usual things came to mind…Sam was a great man, Sam was loved by everyone, and Sam was respected by his employees and friends.  But we all knew that about Sam.

 

The one word that came to me over and over again is the word “FRIEND”.  I think the word “friend” is thrown around too loosely today. Everyday I hear people refer to an acquaintance as, “This is my new friend” or “He or she is an old friend” or “He’s a friend of a friend”.  My definition of a friend is someone you speak to on a regular basis, is one of the first 2 or 3 calls you make when something great happens in your life and stands by you and supports you when things are not going so well.

 

Sam was that kind of friend to me; a great friend. We would talk almost every day and discuss what we had each done the night before, what we planned to do that day.  We talked about everything…work, sports, women, friends, family and all the happenings in the Gaslamp.

 

I learned a lot from Sam.  I used to sit at the bar and watch him work.  I always marveled at how he could discipline his employees and at the end of the shift, he’d be having a beer with that same employee.  The employees knew he was right and that he was teaching each of them to be a better employee and more important, a better person.  The mutual respect between Sam and his employees was obvious.

 

Sam loved his family.  He used to always tell me that he didn’t get much sleep because someone had called him in the middle of the night.  I told him, “Why don’t you turn off your phone like I do.”  He said, “I leave it on in case something happens to my Mom or Dad; I want my family to be able to get a hold of me.”

 

Last year, my Dad was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night.  My sister couldn’t get a hold of me until the next morning.  Fortunately, my dad recovered but the first thing I thought of was Sam leaving his phone on for those kinds of emergencies.  To this day I leave my phone on during the night.

 

Sam and I are alike in many ways.  We’re about the same age, both single, neither of us have kids, are Padre and Charger fans and we like to have a few cocktails and kick back with some of our friends. 

 

The difference is that Sam always saw the glass half full and I saw the glass half empty.  He still thought he had enough game to attract the young girls; I told him he was too old.  We always argued about who was more overweight.  On a trip to Hawaii, I bought Sam a XXL  t-shirt.  He refused to wear it because he told me he was an XL not a XXL.

 

One of my last memories of Sam was getting together for a few drinks during the holidays.  After having one too many drinks, we were standing on the curb on 5^th Avenue waiting to put him in a cab.  We had our arms wrapped around each other and Sam said, “Karl, I love you…you’re one of my best friends.”  I said, “Shut up Sam, you’re Sammered.”  I wish I had said,     “Sammy, I love you too, you’re definitely one of my best friends.”  I miss you Sam and will never forget the friendship and memories we shared.

 

I have two final words for you Sammy, “Hey Now”.

Sam…. I visit this sight a couple times a day! Miss you big guy.

 

I ran across some of our wrestling pictures the other day. I remember the CIF League Championship match against El Camino. I think El Camino jumped to a 16-0 lead before we mounted our comeback. By the time your match came we won four matches in a row, and El Camino was counting on Mike Fleming to beat you. I can still hear Maz yelling at Mike … “Don’t tie up with him… Don’t tie up with him!”  Next thing we all remember: you got a hold of him…then… Wham! With you patent throw, Mike is on his back right in front of the El Camino bench, and Maz screaming NO!

 

Your match was the turning point…. the title was in no doubt after that….

I think we won every match but one from 126lbs on…..

 

Great times my friend…Great times!

 

Your always be remembered…..

HEY  NOW!!! I think of you every day. I'll miss all your random messeages and pictures on my phone. We will see each other again, untill then I'll keep living the dream for you my good friend. Miss you! Love you!

I have been blesed in having the friends that I have had over the years and Sam was no different.  Having known Sam for almost 30 years I know that during those times we were together we were the best of friends.  Sam was not one to say "we should do this or do that", we would do it.  We made trips from Mazatlan to Mammoth and many places in between.  Their are too many memories of good times and not enough space to write them here but those I will carry forever.

 

Our paths took different roads as I settled into family life and we drifted apart.  But even though I had not seen Sam for some time I always felt our friendship would pick up where it had left off.  It was no surprise to see the pictures of his friends and reading all the nice things that were written of the good times that were shared because that was Sam.  My deepest condolences to Sam's family and friends.  He will truly be missed.

My deepest condolences.  May these few words from the Holy Scriptures bring you comfort in your time of grief...

John 11:32-45

32 And so Mary, when she arrived where Jesus was and caught sight of him, fell at his feet, saying to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping and the Jews that came with her weeping, groaned in the spirit and became troubled; 34 and he said: “Where have YOU laid him?” They said to him: “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus gave way to tears. 36 Therefore the Jews began to say: “See, what affection he used to have for him!” 37 But some of them said: “Was not this [man] that opened the eyes of the blind man able to prevent this one from dying?”

38 Hence Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the memorial tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it.39 Jesus said: “TAKE the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days.”40 Jesus said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Therefore they took the stone away. Now Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 True, I knew that you always hear me; but on account of the crowd standing around I spoke, in order that they might believe that you sent me forth.” 43 And when he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: “Laz´a·rus, come on out!” 44The [man] that had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his countenance was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Loose him and let him go.”

45 Therefore many of the Jews that had come to Mary and that beheld what he did put faith in him;

Please go to the following link for more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage

http://www.jw.org 

Hey buddy, It's Halloween!!!!! I miss your crazy ass big time.. I'm in the Midwest and ready to come home. We have shitty teams in Diego now. Norv Turner has to go and the Padres, well that is another story. As they say in Diego, We we get there there next year. Peace out my friend and have fun in the big blue sky........ Remember, steak well done, are you serious................... Peace

Listening to your favorite band, U2. I can't explain to anyone how much I miss you.  You are such a wonderful person.

The Outfield. How much fun we had listening to them. I think of you every day, Sam.