In life, Samuel Thomas, M.D., was an unstoppable force of love and devotion for his family, his coworkers and the children he cared for at Hackensack Meridian K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. His loved ones are ensuring that his legacy will continue by creating an annual award of $1,000 for pediatric residents at the Children’s Hospital who graduated from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Dr. Sam, as he was known to his young patients, had a zest for life that enriched the lives of all who knew him, and is remembered as a gregarious party host who made sure everyone around him had enough food on their plates. 

But in June 2019, Dr. Thomas was diagnosed with cancer in his appendix. For five years, he fought valiantly, undergoing his own fight, while still fighting for his patients.

He Never Stopped Fighting

"He would go and do rounds, even though his partners would say 'Sam, you don't need to come, I got this covered.' He'd be like 'no, no, no, I have to get out of the house and I have to go see my patients,'” said Ofelia Thomas, his loving wife of 15 years. “It made him feel better. He was helping others." 

She added that her husband would watch their son Sammy play ice hockey games after rounds of chemotherapy, even as the treatments left him sensitive to cold. “He never stopped fighting. He never lost faith or hope. He kept fighting. Cancer never stopped him.”

Until, on November 11, 2024, it did, taking the life of this exuberant and caring husband, father and physician at the young age of 57. 

Award Honors Pioneering Clinician at Children’s Hospital

Dr. Thomas joined Jersey Shore full-time in 2002 and served as section chief of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) from 2010-2024. Bruce Grossman, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, worked with Dr. Thomas for 22 years, and credits him for being instrumental in building the Children’s Hospital’s PICU.

"Sam hated rules, and his only rule was 'whatever makes the patients better,'” said Dr. Grossman. “He would do whatever it took to make sure that that child got better."

To keep his memory alive, Ofelia, in conjunction with his colleagues at the Children’s Hospital, decided to create an annual award to help someone pursuing a pediatric residency at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital after graduating from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

“I wanted to keep his legacy alive. I wanted people to keep talking about Sam,” said Ofelia. "I want them to keep saying his name, keep talking about him."

The award given out from the “Dr. Samuel Thomas Memorial Fund” will be subject to an application process and review committee, and the funds will be managed by a review committee of Sam’s colleagues and family. 

“He was never one to say no to somebody who was in need,” said Dr. Grossman. 

“He was always willing to jump in and help, always wanting to do what was best for the child,” said Jessica Scerbo, M.D., section chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and interim chair of pediatrics. “He was the true definition of a team player.”

A Legacy That Continues Through Care

Dr. Thomas believed medicine was more than a profession, it was a calling rooted in compassion, presence and perseverance. Through this award, his commitment to caring for children and supporting young physicians will continue to shape the next generation of pediatric caregivers.

His fighting spirit lives on in every child cared for at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital and in every physician inspired by his example, ensuring that the kindness, dedication and humanity he brought to medicine will continue to make a difference for years to come.

To learn more about how you can support the important work being done there, visit GiveHMH.org/DrThomasMemorialFund.