Samantha “Sami” Bienkowski, ’20, of Toms River, N.J. passed away on November 7, 2017, at home while surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle against cancer. She was born in Red Bank, N.J. and lived in Howell before moving to Toms River in 2008. Sami graduated from St. Veronica’s School, Donovan Catholic High School, Ocean County Community College and La  Salle University.

Sami was an exceptionally special person. With a smile you can’t help but to smile back at and a personality to match, she brought sunshine with her everywhere she went. To know her was to love her and she was loved by so many. Undeterred by her illness, she always lived her life to the fullest with unrelenting positivity and inspired all around her to do the same.

Sami was happiest on the soccer field, but was also the captain of her cheerleading team at St. Veronica’s and played volleyball and lacrosse at Donovan Catholic. She loved being at the beach and took surfing lessons. She also had an adventurous bucket list that included skydiving which she crossed off last summer. Inspired by the care she received at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Sami was studying Nursing at La Salle University to one day pursue her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse.