Samuel Ralph Carlson III

Samuel Ralph Carlson, III died on January 31, 2022, of COVID -19 in Bakersfield, CA where he had been residing for the last 30+ years. Sam was born August 13, 1956, in Torrance, CA, and he was the only child of Samuel R Carlson II and Betty Carlene Carlson. He spent his early years growing up in the Torrance area before moving to the Gustine/Newman area of California in early elementary school. His family moved to Coalinga when Sam was a junior in high school, where he became a Horned Toad and graduated from Coalinga High School in 1975. While Sam did not want to move to Coalinga, he chose to stay after graduation and made many great, life-long friends. No stranger to hard work, Sam had an interesting career that included working for the Department of Water Resources, in the oilfields for S&W Construction and P.M. Scrivner in Coalinga. He then attended Cuesta College and Los Angeles City College, where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Dental Technology in 1990. Soon after, he moved to Bakersfield to be closer to his parents, where he worked as a construction crane operator and as a dental lab technician and a dental equipment transporter for almost 20 years.

Sam was courageous and strong and had a zeal for life well-lived. He suffered a major heart attack in 2001 at the age of forty-five. He survived and lived a full life, until he started experiencing complete heart failure in 2017-2018 and went on the heart transplant list. He needed a bridge to transplant called an LVAD, which he had placed in 2018. Unfortunately, he experienced several complications from this procedure (including kidney failure), a two-month hospitalization, and a long recovery. He returned to Coalinga under the loving care of his long-time best friend, Stacy Eastman, and her husband, Steve Holland. The wonderful support of family and friends and Sam’s love of life, tenacity, courage, and sheer determination sustained him through a long, painful recovery until he returned to his home in Bakersfield several months later where he waited with faith and hope that he would get a heart and kidney transplant. Sam was a person of deep faith and was a baptized Catholic. On May 14, 2020, he got the call that a heart and kidney were available, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam received a heart transplant on 5/15/2020, and a kidney transplant on 5/16/2020 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This gift of life was a miracle for Sam, and his recovery was smooth. He lived his best life, knowing he had been given a second chance and wanted to make the most of it, which he did until his death.

“Sammy” or “Hollywood” as he was known to those closest to him, was fun-loving, loyal, generous, kind, and he had a wicked sense of humor. He was honest and a straight-shooter, always telling it like it was. He deeply valued relationships and did not define his family by blood. He opened his heart to many who were the great beneficiaries of his gentle, loving kindness and loyalty. He loved fiercely, and it was something to know and love him, and to be loved by him. He was excellent about staying connected with his friends and family. During Sam’s recent illnesses and recoveries, social media were a lifeline to him, and the family thanks all who stayed connected with him. Please know it was a great source of joy and comfort for him.

Sam was a clothes horse with a great flair for style. He loved to dance and was a genuinely great dancer. Sam was an avid and loyal sports fan. The Kansas City Chiefs and LA Dodger’s held a special place in his heart his entire life. His favorite college team was the USC Trojans. Sam also loved music and was devoted “Deadhead” to the very end. Sam’s favorite hobby was as a collector. He collected antiques, sports memorabilia, and dachshunds for over thirty years. He also collected watches, clothes, shoes, hats/caps, cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats. All of his rides were customized with that special “Hollywood” look and feel.

Sam was an expert storyteller with a keen memory for detail. He entertained many with his stories that made those of us fortunate enough to know him laugh and reminisce. He was quick-witted and had a deep laugh that could not help but bring a smile to your face; likewise, all you had to do was make him laugh when he was mad, and it was the laugh that filled the room.

Sam is preceded in death by his parents and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Sam is survived by many family members and friends too numerous to mention. Sam also leaves behind his precious dachshunds, Max and Lucy. Sam never gave up his fight to live, and he was a fierce warrior up until the very end. He was accompanied in his journey from his earthly life to the eternal life with Stacy Eastman, his friend of 40+ years, by his side, and his niece Katie Kozakowski present via FaceTime. Rest in Peace Sammy – you have earned it. Know you were loved and will be missed by many—you were one of a kind. You will live forever in our hearts until we meet again.

A Graveside service will be held on Monday February 21, 2022 at 10 am at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93306 followed by a luncheon reception at Pyrenees Café, 601 Sumner St, Bakersfield, CA 93305.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Carlson family.