Friends, colleagues lament loss of Sam Mcneish
Many fondly remember Telegram reporter, basketball official Sam Mcneish for his humour, talent and good heart
If a person’s worth is measured by how they make others feel, Sam Mcneish was priceless.
Mcneish — a longtime newspaper reporter and editor, skillful basketball official and coach, fun-loving sports fanatic, and beloved friend and partner — died Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 56.
Condolences poured in as news of his death spread during the weekend, with people across the country expressing sadness and paying tribute to a man whose humour and cheerful attitude brought happiness to many.
“His smile was infectious,” said Mcneish’s close friend, Jamey Jennings. “I knew (his death) was going to happen, but it’s so hard to accept he’s gone.
“The world’s a lesser place without Sam.”
Jennings — who grew up in Corner Brook and lived in Gander before moving to St. John’s — met Mcneish at a national basketball officials’ meeting in Toronto 25 years ago and the two stayed in touch, sharing news and sharing “foolish” jokes via email and text.
“He was such a funny guy,” he said.
When Jennings moved to St. John’s in 2013, the two spent much time together, whether it was talking sports, poking fun at each other or going for a Sunday morning coffee to talk about life.
“I could talk to him about anything. He was such a good listener and was always there to help,” said Jennings, who shared a special handshake with Mcneish.
“We shared so many good times and we could always lean on each other. He was like a brother to me.
“I’ll never forget that man.” Mcneish, a graduate of Holland College’s journalism program, worked as a newspaper reporter and later as an editor for more than three decades, both in his hometown of Amherst, N.S, and at The Telegram after a move to St. John’s in 2007.
He was sports editor for The Amherst Daily News from 1988 to 2004, covering Cumberland County. He handled some sports editor duties concurrently for The Amherst Daily News’ sister weekly paper, The Citizen, and took on the editor role for the latter paper from 2004-07.
At The Telegram, he worked as a desk editor and later worked as a sports reporter and news reporter.
Mcneish was also a respected basketball official, refereeing games at a variety of levels, including university. He got the opportunity to call professional games when the St. John’s Edge joined Canada’s National Basketball League (NBL).
“He was, without a doubt, the most caring referee we had,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, president of the St. John’s Association of Basketball Officials.
“He cared about our officials and giving them the opportunity to improve. He was a huge advocate. … He’s a major loss for us.
“And when Sam was on the court, whether it was a Grade 5 kids’ game or an Edge game, every game was a championship game and he refereed that way. No messing around. He knew every game was important to (the teams) and that’s how he treated them.”
Fitzpatrick said Mcneish was instrumental in organizing what was to be the association’s first new-officials clinic. However, in 2019, Mcneish informed Fitzpatrick he couldn’t continue due to his diagnosis with cancer.
“I never heard anybody in the whole basketball community say anything bad about Sammy,” Fitzpatrick said.
“When you walked into a gym and Sammy was on the other side and he saw you, he’d make sure he’d come over to shake your hand. He was just an all-round great guy.”
Mark Lever, president and CEO of Saltwire Network, the company that owns The Telegram, first met Mcneish in Nova Scotia the late 1980s through a mutual friend while involved in sports.
After losing touch for many years, the two saw each other again in 2017, when Lever made his first visit to The Telegram newsroom when his company took ownership of the newspaper.
“As nervous and as anxious as I was, it was great to have a friendly face and renew that acquaintance,” Lever said.
Mcneish also refereed NBL games featuring the Halifax Hurricanes, of which Lever is the majority owner.
“We had a couple of good laughs about that,” said Lever, who is also NBL president. “What an awkward spot — a guy who works with you and then he’s reffing (a game with) your team.
“But I remember him being funny and honest. … I just thought, what a great guy. He was, to me, a genuine person.”
Saltwire Network senior managing editor Steve Bartlett has fond memories of Mcneish, known in the newsroom for his year-round willingness to wear shorts at the office, no matter what the weather, along with Montreal Canadiens or Seattle Seahawks attire.
“Sam was a great colleague and just a wonderful man. He cared about the people he interviewed, the stories he told and the people he worked with. He will be missed,” Bartlett said.
“We both loved basketball. When I walked past his desk, I’d smile and pretend to pass a ball to him. He’d pretend to catch it and do the most spectacular dunk. Sam was a lot of fun.”
As per his request, Mcneish was cremated, and no visitation or service will take place. Donations in his name can be made to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre.