MATINICUS — Samuel Jack Macleod left this world too soon on Sunday, May 4, 2025. He passed peacefully, and unexpectedly, in his sleep on Matinicus, on the morning of what was to be his first lobster haul of the season.

Sam was born on January 16, 1986 in Auckland, New Zealand and was raised on the Gold Coast of Queensland, on Australia’s east coast. He was the beloved son of Craig Macleod and the late Michele Macleod and brother to Daniel and Billy and stepson to Loretta DiPietro and stepbrother to Zach, Sammy and Alejandro.

From an early age, Sam loved the water and fishing, especially rod and reel fishing, and by the age of 5, he also was hooked on the sport of rugby. His father, Craig, coached him for many years and it was rugby that eventually brought Craig, then Sam, to the United States where Craig came to coach rugby. Craig eventually moved to Maine and settled on the island of Matinicus.

Sam fell in love with Matinicus and 15 years ago, joined his father on the island. It was Sam’s dream to be a lobsterman. In an environment where you usually need to be from there to fish there, Craig and Sam were eventually accepted into the fishing community and made the island their home. Sam loved the island community, hauling with his dad, and learning from and working with other lobstermen like his friend Tyler Bemis, who he shared tattoo adventures with on trips to New York and just time on the island talking about fishing and sharing advice about life.

In June of 2022, while on the mainland with his longtime friend, Tim Hart, enjoying one of his “beers” – a favorite thing of his to do – Sam met the love of his life, Kasey Garrison, while she was bartending at Trackside Station. Sam fell fast and hard for Kasey. That October, when he hit big on a “scratchie” ticket, he said he knew it was fate and used the money to buy a ring and proposed. Sam and Kasey were married on February, 24, 2024 in one of their favorite places, the island of St. John, making their home in Owls Head, where Kasey grew up near her family. In their short time together, they experienced a lifetime of love, traveling on vacation together and just enjoying simple moments, like their afternoon coffee, talks and watching their shows. They loved cooking together and made a great team. Kasey would try and drag Sam to the gym with her and he would rub his belly and say, “gotta love the veranda over the toy shop.”

Sam quickly bonded with Kasey’s children, Brayden and Charlotte, and was a loving step-father to them. Samuel - as Charlotte insisted on calling him - and Charlotte were best mates. They shared a love of music and sharing songs with each other. Charlotte was his little helper, painting buoys with Samuel, and whatever he was doing, she was usually right there beside him. She loved his cooking and especially his “island steak.”

Sam encouraged Brayden to be the man of the family when he was fishing on the island, and to help his mother, a role that Brayden naturally stepped in to. Sam was a proud step-father to Brayden and they shared a love of opening collectible cards, rod and reel fishing and trying exotic foods that no one else in the family would touch. Sam would always tell Brayden, "love ya man," and it was mutual.

Sam and Kasey’s family became complete with the arrival of their son, Lachlan Craig, who was born this past October. Sam was so happy and excited about fatherhood and raising his son. He stepped into his role naturally and was a supportive partner in marriage and parenting to Kasey. He was always a great cook and helpful with housework and everything that goes into having a newborn. Sam would give Lachlan “rollercoaster” rides, making him laugh more than anyone else could and would Facetime with his son while working on the island. Sam was determined to share his love of rugby with Lachlan and would sit and hold Lachlan while watching games on television. The day before his passing, Sam got to feed bananas and cereal to Lachlan for the first time. He savored his short but wonderful time with his son.

Together, Sam and Kasey adopted a Pomeranian Husky, Loki, who quickly became inseparable from Sam. Sam quickly turned the small, feisty pup into a boat dog who was always right by Sam’s side, even on his last day. And as much as Sam loved Loki, he absolutely adored his cat, Blitz – more affectionately known as Blitzy, who was a constant companion.

Sam loved life and was a proud husband and father. He was realizing all his dreams, including having his own lobstering business. This fishing season was to be his first on his own, as the captain of his own boat, the F/V Charlotte and Laila, running the business that he named for his son, Lachlan’s Lobsters. He was grateful to his sternwoman, Thea Ortiz, for their friendship and memories while lobstering, as well as his for his friendship with Bryan (The Percolator) Perkins and other island mates.

When he wasn’t fishing, he worked in the offseason for his father-in-law, Robert Garrison at Maine Coast Interiors, working closely with his brother-in-law Kelly Garrison, and sister-in-law, Kristi Garrison. Sam became close to all of Kasey’s family and had a close bond with Kristi’s daughter, Maddie. Maddie loved her chill nights with Uncle Sam, kicking back, watching TV and giving each other advice.

Sam had a lifelong friendship with Jaime Dangerfield and his family, friends and former teammates in Australia will celebrate his life there this Saturday.

Sam maintained a close relationship with his brother, Billy, who also moved to the United States. Sam would often tell Billy, who has faced several health challenges, “Chin up! Chest out!” and those he has left behind will try their best to follow his words of advice. Sam was grateful to have reconnected with his brother, Daniel, and Sam got to see him recently before he passed.

Kasey thanks the local community for the outpouring of love and support and also to everyone out on Matinicus who was there in Sam’s final moments and afterwards to help.

Sam was predeceased by his mother, Michele Macleod; and is lovingly remembered by his wife, Kasey; son Lachlan and step-children Brayden Strong and Charlotte Garrison, all of Owls Head; father, Craig Macleod and step-mother Loretta DiPietro of Matinicus and Connecticut and her sons Sammy, Zach and Alejandro; brother Billy Macleod and nephew Cooper of Warren; brother Daniel Macleod and his wife Courtney Macleod and nieces Charlotte and Laila, all of Queensland, Australia; father-in-law and mother-in-law Robert and Brenda Garrison of Owls Head; grandmother-in-law Nancy Crockett; sister-in-law Kristi Garrison and her daughter Maddie of Owls Head; brother-in-law Kelly Garrison and his wife Abby and daughter Koral (Couzzah to Sam) of Owls Head.

Sam touched many lives and a service honoring his memory will be held Thursday, May 15, at 11 a.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. A celebration of life will follow for close family and friends at Trackside Station, 4 Union St., Rockland.

To share a memory or condolence with Sam’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.