I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Sam Grosvenor. I had come to know Sam over the past couple of years as a member of the Optimists Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps. Sam had been part of the drum corps world during the 70’s and there were a number of Optimist corps members who knew Sam quite well from those early years. During some of our performances over the past couple of years, we needed to be shuffled from the end of a parade back to the starting point, where we would retrieve our vehicles. It was on those bus rides that Sam would describe that part of the city to us because he drove a truck and knew the particular area, like the back of his hand. Last year Sam drove to Rochester, NY, with daughter Shannon, for the DCA Championships. I know he wanted her to share in what he loved to do so much—to be part of the excitement of playing in a drum corps. Sam was a team player. He worked hard at contributing to the success of the Optimists and I’m quite sure to the success of every drum corps that he ever had belonged to. Being at a rehearsal or a performance was always a pleasure when Sam was there. Everyone loved being around him, to listen to whatever he had to say and to enjoy the company of this special person, especially when he would express a funny oddity to us all. There was nothing pretentious about Sam. He had an inviting personality and he was one of the most sincere and caring persons I had ever come to know. You naturally knew this by the wonderful expression he always had on his face and by the way he presented himself to you. It was always a pleasure exchanging a few words with him—you instinctively knew that he was your friend. Everyone was shocked and deeply saddened on the day of Sam’s passing—many tears were shed. This is a very difficult time for us all. Sam demonstrated to each of us what it means to be sincere and to be a friend. He brought so much goodness into our lives with his kindness as he set great examples of how we all need to treat others. He showed us what hard work was all about and what it means to be respectful to others. Sam, thank you so much for all the goodness you brought into our lives—we miss you very much. George A. Anthony