Samuel Nicholas Pollard

Samuel "Sam" Nicholas Pollard, 11, of Hadley, passed away peacefully Friday, March 20, 2015, in the arms of his family at Boston Children's Hospital. Sam fought a courageous battle with a very rare genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) most of his young life. Sam was a fifth grader in the Hadley Elementary School.

Sam was the sweetest, kindest, most courageous, brave, hilarious and all around amazing kid. Despite all he endured just to stay alive, he played, laughed, constantly joked, told funny stories and spread so much happiness and inspiration to everyone he encountered. Sam was absolutely awesome and deeply changed the lives of those he met. Sam made clowns laugh while he was here and made them cry when he passed.

Sam was very interested in a career in marine biology. He loved going on whale watches and learning about marine life. Sam enjoyed activities in the outdoors, hiking and travel with his parents. Sam especially loved his two kitties, Lily and Trixie, but loved animals of all kinds. Sam was elected to the student council at Hadley Elementary. He was a two time gold medal winner at a Special Olympics equestrian event last Fall. In an act of kindness and generosity just prior to his last hospitalization, Sam purchased cat food and toys with his birthday money for the animals at the Dakin Animal Shelter.

Sam leaves his parents Kenneth R. and Nina-Levin Pollard of Hadley; his grandmother Beverly "Minnie" Perkins of Enfield, Connecticut; his sister Jessica-Pollard Schrier and brother-in-law David Schrier of South Deerfield; his aunts and uncles Billy and Audrey Perkins of Suffield, Connecticut, Donna Perkins of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Dianne Levin of San Diego, California, Marc and Doreen-Garrido Levin of Huntington, New York, and Sharon and Robert Gill of Cincinnati, Ohio; several cousins Danielle Levin, Carrie, Ryan and Zach Perkins and John and Daniel Gill; and countless friends and loved ones. Sam was predeceased by his older brother Nicholas K. Pollard.

In keeping with the tradition of Sam in trying to make the world a little nicer, the family request that you please perform a random act of kindness in honor of Sam. Additionally, the family ask that donations be made to the AT Children's Project (ATCP.org) or the Brookline Ronald McDonald House (http://www.ronaldmcdonaldhouseboston.org) in memory of Sam.

A celebration of the life and memory of Sam will be held Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Community of Amherst (JCA).