Fr. Sam was born on May 29, 1955 in Passaic, NJ.  He entered the Carmelite Novitiate after graduating from Marquette University in 1978.  He professed his first vows in on September 1st, 1979 and was assigned as an intern at St. Therese Parish.  
        After two years of internship he returned to studies at the Washington Theological Union where he earned a Masters degree in divinity in 1984.  He was ordained on November 24th, 1984.  After ordination he was assigned for a short period of time to St. Cecilia Parish in Englewood, NJ.  In September of 1985 he began teaching and doing Campus ministry at Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet Illinois.  In 1989 he became a campus minister at DePaul University in Chicago where he stayed for nine years.  He also served as director of the Carmelite Volunteer Community in Chicago.  
        In 2000 he returned to St. Therese parish where he remained as parochial vicar for 5 years.  In 2005 he was appointed vocation director for the Carmelites until 2011.  In 2011 he was appointed pastor of St. Therese Parish.  Fr. Sam is also a member of the Carmelite Provincial Council, and chaplain to the Cresskill Police and Fire Departments.