Sam Greene

Sam Greene was born on September 12, 1995, in Hackensack, NJ. He was a remarkable young man with a warm and engaging sense of humor, a strong love for, knowledge of and engagement with history of all facets, a deep love of animals and nature, a strong conscience, moral compass and character, a fierce belief in social justice especially as it pertained to the outcast and disenfranchised, a fervent loyalty to his Colorado Avalanche hockey team, great love for both The Lord of the Rings and the original Star Wars trilogies, and with a magnetic personality that drew people to him who felt, even having just met him, that he was a friend for life, which he was.

When his family moved from NJ to Shawnee, KS in 1997, Sam was only two years old. He once remarked to his father that he never felt like an east coaster and identified with being from the mid-west. He certainly embraced his new home, quickly making friends, many of whom, as noted previously, remained friends for the rest of his life. He and his friends spent many hours at the neighborhood creek where they’d seek out animals, get soaked in the water and play around the dam area. Though, initially, as a small boy he feared dogs (even closing a car door on his father’s head on Cape Cod upon hearing a dog bark), his mother did research on the best breeds for children and brought home two Golden Retriever puppies. Though Sam spent most of the time on the couch and up off the floor the first couple of days with the new puppies, he quickly came to love the dogs, walking them with his Mom, Dad and brothers and playing with them every chance he got. This was the start of his lifelong love of animals that, much to his Mom’s chagrin, included caged snakes! Living in Shawnee as a young boy was Sam’s launching point for his love of friends, animals and nature, the latter two he’d explore much more extensively with his family’s next move.

When his family relocated again 14 years later, this time to Aurora, CO, Sam’s despondency as a 16-year-old at leaving all his friends was understandable and expected. What wasn’t expected was how quickly he decided to take control of his life, meeting new people and making new friends, many of whom as before were drawn to Sam’s affable and funny nature, and became his friends for life. It was in Colorado, as a high school student, that he crystalized his love for history. Not satisfied with ending his learning with what he learned in school, he picked up lots of books and watched documentaries and videos on his own to learn as many facets of history as possible. Frequently, he would engage in phone conversations with his grandfather, a Yale PhD and Chairman of Political Science at Williams College, about what he was learning. His grandfather remarked that Sam’s knowledge was ahead of his years, his energy and questions were insightful and challenging, and that his own college students could learn something by being exposed to his teenage grandson.

One of Sam’s friends, who went to school with Sam starting around 5th grade, recently remarked that “he was always an absolute pleasure to talk to and be around, hilarious, friendly, made everyone feel welcome and included.” Another friend noted, “Sam and I met 15 years ago and we’ve been close friends ever since…He was one of the greatest humans I’ve ever known and his loss is more than I can bear.” Still a third commented, “Sam was one of my closest friends throughout elementary school and middle school…the memories of all the sleepovers and hangouts at the Greene house I will always cherish.”

Sam left us too early in life at the age of 30 on March 9, 2026. While Sam struggled with debilitating illnesses in his last years, his passing was an unexpected shock to his family and leaves a deep hole in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, whose numbers are legion.

He was predeceased by his mother, Ellen Greene, only 6 weeks prior. He is survived by his father, Joe Greene, his two brothers and sister-in-law, Paul Langway III, Josh Greene and Erika Intfen Greene, his nephews Cole Wesley Frieberg-Langway and Elliot Lynne Friberg-Langway, his aunts Denise Fried, Alicia Greene, Eve Greene and Carrie Greene, and his two cousins, DJ Ross and Cat McCallister. Donations in Sam’s name can be made to Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies, The Trevor Project, The Center, The Rocky Mountain Conservancy and/or The Point Foundation.

You may click on this link for Memorial donations to THE CENTER on Colfax or choose one from the list of organizations that touched Sam's life.