I met Samson in undergrad on a group hiking trip. He was the only one who lent me a hand when we encountered rough terrains. Immediately his helpful and kind nature showed through his friendly gestures. It wasn't difficult to befriend a very likable guy who was fond of conversing and telling jokes. On occasion we would study together and encourage one another to do well in school. Samson was always hardworking and studious. There was no question he would achieve great heights in whatever he chose to focus on. At the time I was only aware he had his sights set in the medical field.

Besides work and school, Samson also enjoyed relaxing his mind playing video games. The ones I remember him playing were Minesweeper and Street Fighter II. Back in the days I did not know he could cook or even enjoyed cooking. For late night snacks he introduced me to the Mama instant noodles. They are good and I still buy them from time to time. Another activity he liked to do in the evening was go out for a jog to stay fit and relieve stress. I preferred being sedentary but he managed to drag me out a few times to breath the fresh night air and get the body moving. Honestly I did feel better after a bout of exercise.

We lost communication after a couple of years as I moved off campus and we were both busy with our respective studies and activities. In March of 2009 I received a surprise e-mail from Samson stating that he had moved to the Bay Area and that he was in the process of looking for a practice. I wished him luck but never heard back. Just recently I looked him up to get an update on how he's settling in with his new practice. Sadly I was greeted with the news of his passing. Even though he's gone too soon, I want to thank him for having brought happiness and smiles to those around him. I also want him to know how proud I am of him and admire all his achievements whether personally or professionally. Wherever he is now, I hope he is at peace and smiling. To his wife and family, please accept my condolences. At last, I want to dedicate the song "One Sweet Day" to Samson. May we meet again someday. We will all miss you.


Blue