I don´t know what happened to Sam, but he was an energetic, nice guy. He and John Wheeler were the quarterbacks for our 9th grade football team. A team that went unbeaten and outscored opponents 38-3 on average. Sam´s dad was one of my coaches at St. Paul´s, another gregarious guy who also died very young. When you think about it, everyone who crosses our path has left their mark on us. Usually in a positive way.
I was so sad to see that Sam had passed away. In 9th grade, I had a serious crush on Sam. Wow, he really did have it all.
When I was in my mid to late 20s, and going through a divorce, I was back in Pensacola visiting my parents and decided to get a haircut. The handsome guy who cut my hair looked awfully familiar. Lo and behold, it was Sam!! We both had a lot on our minds, and we talked and talked while he cut my hair. We made plans to get together later, but it just never happened. In all honesty, I think I was still pretty tongue-tied by him :-).
In one of her posts, Rosie Hill mentioned that, a long time ago, she and another classmate had run into one another and talked about getting together, but neither of them followed up and it didn't happen. Rosie said that finding out not long after their conversation that the classmate had died taught her not to take an invitation lightly, and to follow through when someone reaches out, even if the request seems disguised as a simple request to have lunch.
I don't know how Sam passed away, but I will always have sadness in my heart for not following through on his invitation. I will strive to be a better listener, and to follow through on those invitations! God bless you, Sam. I know you're at peace now.
Sam Beard's obituary published in the Pensacola News Journal, 2 Apr 2002, Page 18, Column 1
SAMUEL "SAM"
AVERY BEARD
1956-2002
Samuel "Sam" Avery Beard, age 46, of Pensacola, Florida died Sunday, March 31, 2002 at a local hospital.
Sam was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1956. His family moved to Pensacola in 1965 and it has been his home since then. Sam graduated from the University of West Florida with a Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities. He had many careers from day laborer on the new West Florida Hospital in 1971, bartender in college, a ship's mate on a charter boat, owner and stylist of a hair salon, college teacher, and actor. After several years of searching, he found his true love in life in the arts, which brought him the greatest joy. He became an accomplished musician and professional actor. He was very active with the Pensacola Little Theatre and went on to perform professionally in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New York. In the last six years, Sam's passion has been traditional bluegrass music and the Gulf Coast Bluegrass Music Association where he leaves many close and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hubbard "Dutch" Talley Beard in 1971.
He is survived by his mother, Claudia Beard Bonifay; his daughter, Sara Jillian Lookabaugh; his brother, David (Iris) Beard of Syracuse, New York; his sister, Tally Ann (Frank) Smyth of Charleston, South Carolina; and his grandmother, Helen Lewis Thomas of Birmingham, Alabama. He has three nephews, Michael Beard, Callum Smyth and Alexander Smyth and a very special friend, Brenda Adams.
A joyful memorial service will be held at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, Tuesday, April 2, 2002 at 6:00 P.M.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:30 until service time Tuesday.
Arrangements by Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway, Pensacola FL.
At the time of his death, Sam was acting in the play, "Smoke On The Mountain". The play had just had a very successful run at the Pensacola Little Theatre and was so well received that additional performances at PLT had to be added. After the PLT production closed, cast members had agreed to perform the play at several areas churches.The play's last performance, scheduled on a Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, had to be cancelled due to Sam's death. Here's a photo of the leads that was published in the Pensacola News Journal, 25 Jan 2002, Page 55, Column 3
Phil Payne
I don´t know what happened to Sam, but he was an energetic, nice guy. He and John Wheeler were the quarterbacks for our 9th grade football team. A team that went unbeaten and outscored opponents 38-3 on average. Sam´s dad was one of my coaches at St. Paul´s, another gregarious guy who also died very young. When you think about it, everyone who crosses our path has left their mark on us. Usually in a positive way.Sally Tahler (Draut)
I was so sad to see that Sam had passed away. In 9th grade, I had a serious crush on Sam. Wow, he really did have it all.
When I was in my mid to late 20s, and going through a divorce, I was back in Pensacola visiting my parents and decided to get a haircut. The handsome guy who cut my hair looked awfully familiar. Lo and behold, it was Sam!! We both had a lot on our minds, and we talked and talked while he cut my hair. We made plans to get together later, but it just never happened. In all honesty, I think I was still pretty tongue-tied by him :-).
In one of her posts, Rosie Hill mentioned that, a long time ago, she and another classmate had run into one another and talked about getting together, but neither of them followed up and it didn't happen. Rosie said that finding out not long after their conversation that the classmate had died taught her not to take an invitation lightly, and to follow through when someone reaches out, even if the request seems disguised as a simple request to have lunch.
I don't know how Sam passed away, but I will always have sadness in my heart for not following through on his invitation. I will strive to be a better listener, and to follow through on those invitations! God bless you, Sam. I know you're at peace now.
Chris Vinson
Sam Beard's obituary published in the Pensacola News Journal, 2 Apr 2002, Page 18, Column 1
SAMUEL "SAM"
AVERY BEARD
1956-2002
Samuel "Sam" Avery Beard, age 46, of Pensacola, Florida died Sunday, March 31, 2002 at a local hospital.
Sam was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1956. His family moved to Pensacola in 1965 and it has been his home since then. Sam graduated from the University of West Florida with a Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities. He had many careers from day laborer on the new West Florida Hospital in 1971, bartender in college, a ship's mate on a charter boat, owner and stylist of a hair salon, college teacher, and actor. After several years of searching, he found his true love in life in the arts, which brought him the greatest joy. He became an accomplished musician and professional actor. He was very active with the Pensacola Little Theatre and went on to perform professionally in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New York. In the last six years, Sam's passion has been traditional bluegrass music and the Gulf Coast Bluegrass Music Association where he leaves many close and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hubbard "Dutch" Talley Beard in 1971.
He is survived by his mother, Claudia Beard Bonifay; his daughter, Sara Jillian Lookabaugh; his brother, David (Iris) Beard of Syracuse, New York; his sister, Tally Ann (Frank) Smyth of Charleston, South Carolina; and his grandmother, Helen Lewis Thomas of Birmingham, Alabama. He has three nephews, Michael Beard, Callum Smyth and Alexander Smyth and a very special friend, Brenda Adams.
A joyful memorial service will be held at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, Tuesday, April 2, 2002 at 6:00 P.M.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:30 until service time Tuesday.
Arrangements by Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway, Pensacola FL.
Chris Vinson
At the time of his death, Sam was acting in the play, "Smoke On The Mountain". The play had just had a very successful run at the Pensacola Little Theatre and was so well received that additional performances at PLT had to be added. After the PLT production closed, cast members had agreed to perform the play at several areas churches.The play's last performance, scheduled on a Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, had to be cancelled due to Sam's death. Here's a photo of the leads that was published in the Pensacola News Journal, 25 Jan 2002, Page 55, Column 3