Samuel Shear

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Samuel David Todd Shear, who left us on April 30, 2026.

Sam was incredibly empathetic, kind, and a beautifully sensitive man. Sam was very open and authentic. He wasn't afraid to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly about himself. For those of you who knew Sam well, you know that he sometimes struggled with life, but in other ways he absolutely soared! He was incredibly endearing and was loved by so many people. It is a cliche to say, but all types of people liked Sam. In the job he had the longest, as a host at Green Lemon, he came across all types, from rich to poor, and he found a way to connect with all of them. His charm and charisma were undeniable.

Sam was whip-smart, but didn't love school. He had no patience for the meaningless assignments or the subjects that held no interest for him. But if it was a history or math class, Sam excelled. Sam loved food, and to cook and feed people and was a fabulous entertainer. He was an enigma. In his younger years, Sam struggled socially, especially with kids his own age, but never had trouble making friends with adults. As an 8 year old at a classmates birthday party, while all of the other kids were on the bouncy house, Sam was hanging and talking with the parents. Sam connected with older people like no one else his age. In the last couple of years, Sam found his social footing and went out frequently where he made friends everywhere he went.

You cannot talk about Sam without mentioning his love of sports. He was a good athlete himself and an excellent tennis player. He loved the Bucs, Lightning and Rays, and went to games often. He loved the excitement of live sports and was starstruck whenever he ran into a professional athlete out in public. One of his greatest joys was seating Tristan Wirfs immediately at Green Lemon, allowing him to skip the two hour wait. It is unimaginable sitting down to watch a game now - with Sammy missing from his spot on the couch.

With a few short exceptions, Sam lived at home with us for all 22 of his years. We are utterly gutted by his loss and cannot imagine how we will fill the hole that he has left in our lives. We cannot yet find or feel any consolation for his loss, but we are hopeful of getting to a point where we can be thankful for the 22 years that he was able to give us.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 12:00pm at Congregation Schaarai Zedek. If you are unable to join in person, you may stream the funeral service on our website at: www.zedek.org/streaming.