Samuel Raymond Kenji Nitta

Samuel was born on August 23, 1987, in Denver, Colorado at Saint Joseph’s hospital. He grew up in Northglenn and Thornton. Samuel graduated from Horizon High School in 2005. Samuel thought about becoming a teacher, but after spending one semester at the University of Northern Colorado he shifted his focus to screenwriting. He had a deep love for movies and that love extended into his choice of college education. It was very common to hear the family and him quoting lines or using references in everyday conversation. He transferred to the University of Colorado at Denver and graduated in 2011 with a BFA in Writing/Directing for Film.

After graduating, Samuel started working for the USPS as a mail handler. He enjoyed the work and his fellow employees.

Samuel was so strong. He was physically strong as shown by his excellence in basketball, football, and baseball. He was strong in his faith. He served his church in an AV capacity and knew more about the Bible than anyone. Strong in his convictions. Strong in his work ethic. Strong in his anti-smoking stance; always giving the side-eye while “coughing”. But ever so gentle in his demeanor. Never rude. Never crass.

Samuel was an imposing figure of a man, six foot tall, ramrod straight posture, with muscles he’d developed over the years of sports activities and work on the dock for the US Postal Service plus his years as his niece and nephew’s jungle gym. He was proud of his weightlifting ability. Everyone always felt safe anywhere they went with Samuel, because they knew no one would mess with him. He will be missed when Noel starts dating,

Samuel had a sweet face and sweet smile. Samuel was a gentle giant treating everyone with respect and kindness. One umpire who worked many of the baseball games said he always liked Samuel to catch because he was in less danger of being hit. He also said that he could tell Samuel had been raised properly because when he missed a call Samuel would just look him in the eye, never argue, but it would inform him that he had missed it.

The nurses at the hospital remarked on how his demeanor was so gentle but that he was tough as nails telling them he was fine when others would have been loudly complaining. His Aunt Leslie has another name for that, but we don’t use those words.

Samuel was a devoted uncle. He loved his niece and nephew and was always there to support them, whether it was a fundraiser or a school function. He loved playing with them, helping them with their problems, and enjoyed going on walks with them.

Samuel was so excited to receive his niece Noel and nephew Tobiah. He wasn’t afraid to hold them and love them even with the strange smells and fluids. They loved him too and enjoyed many afternoons in the backyard playing games with Samuel and his brother Daniel.

Samuel was a natural statistician and scientist. He loved to observe others and keep records of everything. Games (sports and board games) that he played were recorded and statistics for all the players were calculated and recorded. He had lists of his favorite songs, singers, films, actors, and actresses. In 2021, he kept track of all the dinners his mother made so he could show her how many times she made burritos, spaghetti, and hamburgers. His favorite foods were spaghetti, pork lo mein, tempura vegetables, pizza, and hamburgers. But he did like variety and tried to expand the menu.

Samuel always had a quick intellect and even in these last days he was watching Jeopardy! and giving correct answers. He had an encyclopedic mind and knew things that blew our minds. In high school he was the captain of the Knowledge Bowl team, scored 34 on his ACT test, the highest score on his AP physics exam, and was a Valedictorian for his high school graduation. He loved puzzles and trivia games and jigsaw puzzles too.

Samuel enjoyed sports, both playing and watching. He always had the most fun playing and it showed in his face. His playing days started when he was 6 years old and joined a t-ball team. The next year he played on a coach-pitch team and for some reason it took most of the season before he would swing the bat. But once he started to swing, there was no stopping him. He just kept getting better and better. When he was 7, he decided he wanted to give basketball a shot. He was able to get onto a YMCA team. He had never played before, so he didn’t have the same skills as his teammates. Fortunately, his coach was willing to work with him and by the end of the season, Samuel was able to hold his own against more experienced kids. That was his only foray into organized basketball. He continued playing baseball every summer. In middle school, he ventured onto the football field. He got onto the Thornton Middle School team and learned basic techniques. He enjoyed playing and decided to play football at Horizon High School. He played on the offensive line but gave up on football after that freshman season. Samuel also played baseball at Horizon High School, but after a disagreement with the coaching staff, he stopped playing after his sophomore year. However, he continued playing Little League baseball. He also started playing softball at that time. He tried out for the University of Northern Colorado baseball team as a freshman, but the college was only looking for pitchers and catchers at that time. While he was in college, he played in a wooden bat baseball league for a couple of years. One year, the pastor of the church Samuel was attending decided he wanted to have a softball team. The team didn’t come together as the pastor envisioned and it ended up having inexperienced players. Samuel spent a lot of time teaching others how to field grounders, catch fly balls, and how to properly hold the bat. That team lasted three seasons, two summers with a spring season between. Samuel continued playing softball until he was physically unable to. He did coach and continued to share his knowledge. He was always willing to share his knowledge and experience with others to help them become better, both as players and people.

Samuel also put his college degree to work. Along with his brothers, they wrote, directed, and produced a number of short films and music videos.

Samuel was diagnosed with leukemia (CML) in January of 2022. For the next two and a half years, Samuel fought a gallant battle against the disease, but finally succumbed to it on July 28, 2024.

Samuel was predeceased by his grandparents, Patricia and Raymond Thomason and May and William Nitta, great-aunt Terri and great-uncle Roy Nitta, and his aunt Ying Chow (Phil)and uncle Stuart Nitta.

He is survived by his parents, Kathy and Wayne Nitta, his brothers Daniel and Michael and Michael’s wife and children (Rose, Noel, and Tobiah), as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins:

Phil Ogata

Ru and Gary Nitta

Chris and Bruce Nitta

Scott Nitta and Jenny Fox

Beth and Thomas Geisthardt

Asa and Cameron

Kathy and Roger Nitta

Kyle Nitta

Lei and Karl Nitta

Cindy and Craig Yarborough

Matt Nitta

Leslie and Anthony (Buddy) Hernandez

Laura and Jered Hein

Samuel will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make donations to:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

3 International Drive Suite 200

Rye Brook, NY 10573

Or online at LLS.org