It is a sad day today at NAC as we say goodbye to a man that has been a huge part of our NAC family since the beginning. As many of you know Sam was born with Cystic Fibrosis, a disease he fought with every day. Sam was a fighter and excuses weren’t an option when we were around him. Sam surpassed the average age of people with CF by decades. It was being around the salt water that kept him going.

Sam taught us to love and respect the ocean. He taught us that winning wasn’t everything, and that if you weren’t having fun you weren’t doing it right. He taught us that NAC is stronger as a team than individuals. Sam was a legend. Sam was one of the first coxswains at NAC and he is one of the only athletes that has competed in every water craft that NAC has to offer at a national level. We will always have a special place in our hearts for Sam. And will always remember the positive impact he had on everyone that came into contact with him. Sam was our rock.

While we know this would naturally trigger sad emotions in all of us, we all need to remember the good times we had and the good life lessons he instilled in each and everyone one of us. So we’ll keep our heads up and remember that no one is in this alone, and that we are all here for each other.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sam Couch. NAC is open for anyone that needs us.

We are a family. We are a team.

WITH ALOHA,

Billy Whitford and the NAC Staff