Sam's Story

Samuel Tirone Jr. started playing sports at a very young age. He was an amazing athlete, and at only 7 years old he played quarterback and led his pop Warner C squad football team to an undefeated season in 1983. This team would grow together to win consecutive national division championships. Sam was good at many things, when he put his mind to something he put his whole heart in it. He was good in school as well as many other sports but football was his passion. Sam was the starting quarterback at PV high school from 1987 - 1991. He achieved 1st team all league and all county honors culminated by a 2nd team Allstate senior year where he threw for over 4000 yards and 32TDs. He went on to play for Central Connecticut State University still wearing that # 17 given to him at a young age. While there Tirone set many records in his career including pass completions in a season (138), total offensive yards in a game (305), single-season passing yards in 1994 (2,116), and career passing yards (4,414). All through his athletic career, he met some amazing people that continue to stand by him.

Somewhere in these college years, Sam started falling down on the wrong path. At times his addiction was bigger than the game. Nevertheless, he picked himself up and set different goals. In and out of rehabs and halfway houses, he met more amazing people to stand by him.

Part of the process is helping others that struggle with the same painstaking issues. Sam also helped many get themselves recovery, meeting over a cuppa coffee or just going to them and getting them where they needed to be.

Sam had the charisma to sweep anyone off their feet. He had a big personality with the ability to make you laugh till you cried. His laugh was so contagious, you couldn’t help but laugh along with him! His ability to tell you a story really transported you there with him. He had a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off his back. When Sam knew someone was struggling the way he did he would help get them into halfway houses and or rehab whatever need be. He would give his moral speeches and often check on peoples frequencies. He knew what he needed to do to live a happy, fulfilling life and would check on people to make sure they were doing the same. He often shared that he would love to open halfway houses to help others in the struggle.

Throughout the years, his story would go from falling down and getting up, falling down to succeeding, trying again, working hard. Falling down, getting up to more falling down and falling down again. His father always told Sammy it’s not how you start. It’s how you finish go down swinging and that’s exactly what he did.