Sam Short graduated from Upper Arlington High School in December of 2023 a believed class member of the class of 2024. He loved life — whatever was right in front of him, he was all in. Sam was kind, caring, loyal, generous and so empathetic. Sam loved the Reds, playing travel baseball, playing basketball with friends, watching movies, and playing wiffle ball in the front yard with his dad and brother: He loved all things Ohio State, basketball, and football. Sam passed away on Apr. 7, 2024 after a 5 1/2 year-long struggle with cancer: Despite this, Sam lived a life of kindness, integrity, and humility
Sam loved Legos and especially Star Wars Legos. He thought he grew out of them when he was 12, but connected with a creative friend who also experienced the challenges of childhood cancer and re-sparked his interest again. It became a form of therapy for himself physically for his hand function and mentally as a remembrance. Building legos became the joy of his heart, connecting with friends and strangers over building. The loss of his ability to build became one of his biggest heartaches but he kept connections by being ‘quality control’ as he supervised with friends.
Sam loved kids too. The simplicity of connecting with a small child brought him great joy: Whether it was on a short-term basis at service events or helping in a Sunday School room, Sam loved to play. Sam loved to coach and share his baseball knowledge with little athletes who were eager to learn from him. Sam was so proud of their accomplishments and their success. One of Sam’s favorite times of the week was with baby Will, a new addition to a good friend’s family, who saw nothing but love in Sam’s eyes.
Sam loved learning and worked hard to graduate early in December as the first graduating student of the Upper Arlington High School class of 2024. The teachers at UA built a very unique and special experience that he loved. His middle school and high experiences were challenging socially as Sam’s health changed but he loved the friends who looked beyond cancer and remembered Sam was still Sam.
Above all, Sam loved his family. His love and loyalty to his mom was unparalleled except for her love for him. Sam loved his grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousin. He loved being helped by them and being spoiled with their love. Sam loved his brother and sisters. He was a big brother in every sense and had a big heart. Sam leaves behind many who loved him near and far: He was most appreciative of those who treated him just as “Sam” regardless of what he was able to do physically. Sam and his family were able to travel and have many adventures together, taking advantage of opportunities to live life to the fullest.
Sam wanted to serve his country. He dreamed of being a Marine from a young age; and anybody that knew h i m knew that. O n Apr: 29, 2022, Sam became an honorary Marine a t Parris Island, after completing a four day boot camp for his Make-A-Wish. This accomplishment brought much pride to Sam the rest of his life, because that’s the type of person Sam was: the type of person to dream of dedicating his life to a greater cause. Sam was a friend, a brother, and a son. But most of all, Sam was a person who never let cancer define him. Sam made a choice daily to live his life fully and give life all his heart and energy. From the moment he was born, Sam lived right here and now, with joy and love. And he would want you to do the same.
Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.” And they worshiped the LORD there. I Samuel 28:1 NLV.
Written by Arlingtonian Editorial Staff with excerpts from Sam Short’s Obituary.