Samuel Conrad Shumadine, 17, passed away on January 3, 2024, at home in Norfolk, Virginia, after a fearless battle with osteosarcoma. Diagnosed in April 2022, Sam faced an aggressive and resistant cancer, but he never let it define him.

A proud member of the Norfolk Academy community since first grade, Sam embraced every aspect of school life. He thrived in the classroom, forming strong bonds with teachers and friends, and his competitive spirit shined on the tennis courts, soccer and lacrosse fields, and basketball courts. Even when he could no longer play, he remained a dedicated teammate—leading, managing, and cheering from the sidelines with unwavering enthusiasm. His natural leadership was evident, most recently as an executive member of the Upper School Council.

More than anything, Sam cherished his friendships. His optimism, kindness, and mischievous smile were infectious, making him a magnetic presence among classmates. He had a rare ability to uplift those around him, bringing laughter and light to even the hardest moments.

Beyond school, Sam was an avid Virginia Cavaliers, San Francisco 49ers, and Miami Heat fan who could talk sports for hours. He lived life to the fullest—dancing at parties, listening to music, traveling the world, spending summers at Camp Seagull, and making memories at Sandbridge Beach with family.

Though his time was too short, Sam’s impact was immeasurable. His legacy now lives on through the Shumiestrong Osteosarcoma Science Fund, ensuring that future osteosarcoma patients have the hope and breakthroughs Sam so deeply wished for.

Sam’s final wish was to see his savings go toward cancer research—toward something that could make a difference for others facing osteosarcoma. Honoring his request, we established the Shumiestrong Osteosarcoma Science Fund at OSI, an organization fully dedicated to advancing osteosarcoma research.

Your support has helped fund:

• Dr. Brian Crompton, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: A breakthrough liquid biopsy study exploring whether a simple blood test can help monitor osteosarcoma and treatment response, offering a less invasive alternative to surgical biopsies. This work was funded in honor of one of Sam’s doctors, Dr. Katie Janeway.
• Dr. Robin Parihar, Baylor College of Medicine: A cutting-edge CAR-T therapy research project focused on reducing toxicity and improving effectiveness, helping lay the groundwork for a new osteosarcoma clinical trial.
• Break Through Cancer’s Defying Osteosarcoma TeamLab (multi-institutional): A collaborative effort bringing leading researchers together to accelerate new approaches for osteosarcoma, with a focus on moving discoveries toward patient impact faster.

In 2026, funds raised through Sam’s campaign will support a new osteosarcoma research project led by Ryan Roberts, MD, PhD at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. His study uses machine learning to help predict which targeted drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are most likely to work for an individual patient. Because Sam took TKIs during his treatment, this work is especially meaningful to our family.

We can’t do this without you. When you donate to OSI in Sam’s memory, 100% of your gift goes directly to osteosarcoma research—fueling the next breakthrough and bringing hope to families who need it most.