Sam, a versatile athlete at Bennett, played baseball, basketball and ran cross country. Not only did he receive All High honors in baseball{short stop} in 1961, Sam was named Most Outstanding Athlete that same year. He was also the captain of the ‘61 baseball and basketball teams his senior year.
After pitching a no-hitter in July, 1961, Sam entered Brockport State where he received All-State honors and the MVP award in 1964. He led the nation in stolen bases that same year and thereafter, declined a contract with the Detroit Tigers.
Sam is a retired teacher and administrator for the Buffalo Public School System. He has been married to his wife Nancy for 47 years and they are the proud parents of a son Scott, a lawyer in New York City, and daughter Aimee, a counselor at Erie Community College.