07/13/2026
🇺🇸 My brother and best friend, Dr. John Sampson, died in 1992 at age 32. He was a very clever, determined guy who managed to put himself through med school with the help of grants, hard work as a bartender in NYC and years of savings. He loved people and made friends easily with his humor and quick wit. He was also very determined and knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish in life.
After graduating from Columbia John did his residency at Lenox Hill Hospital. Later, he opened a clinic in The South Bronx. He helped many people. They all loved him and his terrible Spanish. Many of our friends began testing positive for HIV. John got meds to those who needed them as AIDS related illnesses developed.
John was a tough worker, big dreamer and very creative with money, accomplishing a lot in a very short time.He bought a brownstone apartment on the Upper West Side and a small house on the ocean in Fire Island Pines … and two little Irish Terriers. His kids. He loved life and enjoyed every second at a time when tomorrow was so unknown.
I was the only family member who knew John was gay and we shared the same social circle. Though the family lived 2 hours away, keeping the secret was still tricky.
One beautiful evening we were sitting on the deck, drinking champagne while admiring the moonlight over the ocean. John turned to me and said … “It’s time.”
John wanted to share the beauty of his life and home on Fire Island with our parents. At the next family gathering John announced he was gay. Our siblings weren’t surprised. It took the parents a bit of time to absorb the information. John had to get back to the city as he was working that night. He’d timed his bombshell for a last minute exit. Hurrying off, he told them “Jeanne will explain” … and so I did.
A few weeks later the entire family spent the weekend at the house on the island. A great time was had by all. John was relieved and happy. Life was great … until it wasn’t. He got very sick with Lyme disease. After that I started asking him if he was still HIV negative. I’d asked so often that eventually I’d put it out of my mind.
During another family gathering a year later John told us he was HIV positive. He explained it as best he could, but needed to leave the house. Again … “Jeanne will explain.”
Everyone cried, except me. He needed me to stay in control. To help them. So I did.
John chose me to be his caregiver when the time came, and I needed to be there. He wanted to die at his home. It wasn’t easy, even with a daily nurse visit, but John was home when he left us.
It was the hardest thing’s I’ve ever done, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. For him. 📖 by Jeanne Sampson
