Category Archives: 2010s

Kariamu Samples-Smart ’11

On August 31, 2024, Kariamu “Kay” Micere Samples-Smart, age 31, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Houston, Texas of unknown causes. Born on March 24, 1993, in Hamilton, Ohio, Kay was adopted as an infant and spent her formative years in Bogota, NJ. She always felt the utmost gratitude to her birth family for placing her with adoptive parents who loved her unconditionally.

Kay was an exceptional child with a curious mind, boundless energy and incredible athleticism. She displayed an early gift for learning and attended several elementary schools in search of suitable intellectual and academic challenges. Finding none to fit the bill, Kariamu made the leap to boarding school in 7th grade. Her boarding school career began at Rumsey Hall School (Washington Depot, CT), where she graduated 9th grade in 2008. Kay attended secondary school at Williston Northampton School (Easthampton, MA), graduating in 2011.

Kay was a consummate athlete. Her love for the game of basketball began in elementary school and was unmatched. Her passion and skill for the sport was unparalleled and garnered admiration from players, parents and coaches alike since she first picked up a basketball. After years of competitive AAU basketball, Kay landed a Division I offer to play at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona, Florida.

In 2013, Kay enlisted in the United States Air Force where she served as a Civil Engineer for nearly four years. After leaving the armed services Kay found another passion and immense pride in sales, smart home technology and entrepreneurship. Kay set top sales records early in her career, a trend she maintained until her passing. In recent years, Kay had also established the first Female-Veteran owned and operated Home Improvement business in Spring, TX. She took great pride in helping others through the work she did each day as both an employee and an entrepreneur.

Kay was kind, joyful, enthusiastic, and funny. She had a natural charisma and genuine charm that could never be faked. Kay worked and loved hard, giving of herself freely in each regard. She reveled in all things Star Wars, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and, especially, the game of basketball.

Kay is survived by her parents Dr. Faith Samples-Smart and Leon Smart; her brothers, Khari and Akil Smart; her paternal grandmother, Nicole Smart; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who cared for and will miss her deeply.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Costa Memorial Home, Boulevard & Central Ave. Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.

Dorothy Annika Smith ’15

March 1, 1996 – July 8, 2024

Photos and Memory Wall Shared by Annika’s Family

Dorothy Annika Smith, 28, died on July 8, 2024, in Berkeley, California. Annika was born on March 1, 1996, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is survived by her mother, MegAnn Mara-Smith of Hailey, Idaho; her father, Steven “Bo” Smith of Berkeley; her brother, Hanson Smith of San Marcos, California; her partner, Ian Dyckes of Berkeley; and her demonic cat Nimbus.

Annika was raised near Russellville, Arkansas and attended St. John’s Catholic School and Russellville Middle School. She graduated from the Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts in 2015. Annika attended Quest University in Squamish, BC, Canada and transferred to Clemson University where she received her B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. She earned her Master’s of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Annika started as an Assistant Biosafety Officer at the University of California, Berkeley in the summer of 2022. She brought enthusiasm to her work and was excited to be growing in a career she found fulfilling. Annika was diagnosed with sinonasal cancer in October 2023.

Annika was known for being inquisitive and adventurous. She loved backpacking in remote, beautiful places. Hard work, both physical and intellectual, was something that Annika valued. She worked as a veterinary assistant during college and spent a summer employed on a musk ox farm in Palmer, Alaska. She was a committed scientist and a voracious reader. During her battle with cancer, she meticulously researched her treatment options and fought the disease with grace and bravery.

Mary Amelia Koback ’17

Mary Amelia Koback of Charlotte, NC, died peacefully in her sleep on 10/26/19. She was born on 9/25/98 in Rockville, MD. Her childhood in Gaithersburg, MD, was full of joy. She was a 2017 high school graduate of Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA, and was an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was working toward declaring a major in Neuroscience. She was an accomplished pianist, actor, and singer. She was a quick and strong athlete, who once arm wrestled and beat every challenger in her middle-school class, including all the boys. She competed on many teams in swimming, triathlon, soccer, cross country running, and – most-impressively – water polo. She was a leading scorer on the women’s water polo teams both in high school at Williston, where she earned the Most Improved Player award in 2015, and in college at Pitt, where she earned the Rookie of the Year award in 2018. She was also a dedicated lifeguard at many pools and a member of the land activity team at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, where she expertly taught and served guests on the ziplines, jump platforms, and ropes courses. She was insightful and brave. She was caring and supportive to her family and friends, whom she loved and cherished. She leaves her parents, grandparents, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and dogs, all of whom will love and miss her forever. Her memorial service is private, but gifts in her memory can be made to the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Water Polo Team Club at the following link:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-honor-of-the-life-of-mary-a-koback?fbclid=IwAR0-wchVQ9QjlStPhXzfmj2ZGzKZxzk943JMkRmO1JD_Q3TQ2DolAlPE2R8

Joseph P. Deane ’14

Joe Deane, 23, of Madison, CT was killed on December 7th in New Haven, CT and declared on December 9, 2018.
Born Joseph Peter Deane at Yale New Haven Hospital, our family received a gift from God.
He attended Daniel Hand High School in Madison CT, leaving at the end of his junior year for Williston-Northampton where he played football, hockey, and lacrosse, leading the colonial league in tackles for football and dominating the field in lacrosse.
From Williston, Joe attended Bridgton Academy where he excelled in Lacrosse, wearing #34 for the Wolverines. He graduated in 2014 and went on to play one season of Lacrosse at Springfield College. After one year Joe decided it was time to go to work and immediately started with his father and brother at Dichello Distributors before landing a position on Wall Street as a broker for Premium Merchant Funding in Manhattan.
Joe leaves behind his beloved parents Peter and Lisa Deane of Madison, along with his Irish twin brother Michael.
Adoring Aunts and Uncles, Dina and Tim LaMotte, PJ and Miriam Cambo of Wilbraham MA, Philip and Kathy Cambo of Sturbridge MA, Ned and Teresa Deane of Boston MA, and Deb and Jeff Jankot of Ipswich MA.
Joe’s heartbroken and loving grandparents are Tess and Paul Cambo of Wilbraham, MA.
Joe grew up close to his several cousins, who became like loving brothers and sisters in life, as he was always happiest in their company. They are Neddie Deane of New York NY; Cam, Jake and Avery LaMotte of Wilbraham MA, and Mckenna Cambo also of Wilbraham MA.
He was pre-deceased by his uncle Michael Lindsay Deane. Michael served our country honorably in Vietnam with 101st Airborne and was killed in action. His paternal loving grandparents were Lee and Edward Deane.
Joe was an organ donor. Shortly following his death his donations were all successfully transplanted, saving the lives of four people.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 12 Noon at St Cecilia’s Church 42 Main Street Wilbraham, MA 01095. There are no Calling Hours. Burial is private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stavros foundation at info@stavros.org. Helping to improve the quality of life of our disabled veterans.
The Deane family will be forever grateful to the staff at Yale New Haven hospital MICU. Their care and respect for Joe was extraordinary. A very special thank you and an abundance of love to Ana, Jenn, Toni, Patrice, Jen, Catherine, Paula and Bow.