Samuel Mark Golden

Samuel M. Golden of Aurora died in his home on April 5, 2008 after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Born May 20, 1958 in Franklin, PA, he was the son of the late Samuel B. and Shirley Sweeney Golden. He is survived by his wife Pamela Dominic of Aurora, daughter Stefanie Golden and grandson Jaythan Poppen both of St. Louis Park, MN, and three sisters Deborah Golden of Oil City, PA, Lori Golden of Emlenton, PA, and Jodi Focht of Franklin, PA. He was a dedicated employee of Denver Wire Rope & Supply for 15 years. He enjoyed motorcycle riding, target shooting, working on vehicles, watching sports, and spending time with friends. He was a talented handyman and took great pride in his home. The following is the Eulogy from Sam's Service Samuel Mark Golden was born to the late Samuel B. and Shirley Sweeney Golden on May 20, 1958 in Franklin, PA. He grew up on a farm with his parents, three sisters Debbie, Lori and Jodi, and his grandmother. He told me many stories about his youth, which definitely formed him into the wonderful man he became. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting his parents, he gave me a feel for the kind of people they were and his life growing up. He shared with me stories of harvesting crops with their tractor, snapping green beans with his mother and grandmother on the front porch of their home, hunting, farm animals, and his love of fast cars as his teenage years progressed. His father was a former marine and definitely gave him his masculinity and manliness, while the women surrounding him gifted him with his big heart and his soft side. It was a good mix of influences for him. He did grow to become a very independent young man, and at the age of 19 decided to leave his home in PA and see what the rest of the world had to offer. He first went to Florida for a short time, and then came to Colorado, where he has lived here ever since. He did go back to PA to visit his sisters on occasion, and of course, for the deaths of his parents. Not too long after moving to Colorado he married Deborah Bednarcik and eventually purchased a home here in Aurora. At the age of 27, he became the proud father of Stefanie Marie Golden, his only daughter. She was named so her initials were identical to her father's---SMG. After his wife received a job transfer to General Mills in Minneapolis, MN, they ended up divorcing. Sam wanted to remain in Aurora, but he acquired a house for Deborah and Stefanie to live in St. Louis Park, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis). He, of course, stayed in contact with Stefanie, and they shared regular visits together. Several years after that, he and Pam were introduced to each other at the Oasis Grill in early October, 2001 shortly after 911. They quickly became ""smitten"", and moved in together in February, 2002. For their first date Sam took Pam to the circus which they attended with Roger Gehring (a close friend of his from work) and Roger's wife and children. Pam absolutely loved the circus, as she couldn't remember ever having gone before. It was a unique, fun and wonderful first date. They loved each other very much and had planned on marrying some day, but were very happy with their lives together without the ""piece of paper"", as some people refer to it. Pam's family very graciously accepted him into theirs and were very happy that Pam had finally settled down with a wonderful guy. He attended countless family functions with his ""second family"" and always expressed what good people they all were. I know he loved and appreciated them very much and enjoyed spending time with them. Sam started working in the wire rope/rigging industry after he moved to Colorado. He worked for Union Supply and Western Sling before settling in with a company called Denver Wire Rope & Supply. He worked there for 15 years, and I know he enjoyed his work very much. He was a hard worker and a dedicated employee with much knowledge acquired through his years of experience, and I feel he was considered part of their company family as well. I am comforted to know that they appreciated him and treated him so well. Sam had a good friend named Jerry that died several years ago. That left a void for him that was finally filled a couple of years ago with his new best friend, Bob Nibbe. They became two peas in a pod very quickly, and it really ""perked"" Sammy up. Bob is a fun and giving person with a heart of gold just like Sam. That's why they were so perfect together. Their favorite thing to do was go on motorcycle rides together in the warm weather. Each one would do anything for the other, and they had a close and special relationship that every person should have the pleasure of experiencing. Sam had also recently started target shooting with Bob's father. He loved to work on cars and vehicles, but recently told me he was ""getting too old for this stuff"". He was an excellent handyman who could do just about do anything. He made countless improvements to our home from the time we moved in 3 ½ years ago, and his lawn was the most beautiful in the neighborhood. Sam and I had two pets who were our ""children"". He bought our cockatiel Pepper for me as a gift, because I had told him of birds I had in the past. A few years after that, I brought home a puppy after receiving his somewhat hesitant consent. He ended up falling in love with both, and they became very attached to him as well. It breaks my heart when our dog Taylor still waits at the top of the stairs for him to come in from the garage after hearing a noise she thinks has been generated from her beloved papa. It is amazing how she senses something is something wrong. I hope she will get over it in time. Sam was a private and somewhat quiet man, but definitely some one that desired and needed companionship. He gained many treasured friends in his lifetime, and each and every one touched and enriched him. He had a great sense of humor and a heart of gold, and I don't think there was a single person he met who didn't like him. I am so sad that he had to be taken from us at such a young age due to such a horrible and unexplained disease. We had so much we still wanted to do and accomplish in life. But, as we all know, God works in mysterious ways, and I am grateful that he did not have to experience another day of pain and suffering. Sam was a registered organ donor, and was able to donate his cornea which I am told were already passed on earlier this week. Sam, you were so very strong, brave and courageous through this entire ordeal. I am so very thankful that so many of your friends and loved ones are here to honor you today. Please know that we all love you and miss you terribly. We will always remember you and think of you often. I am so happy that I was able to take care of your final needs with so much help and support from your friends and family. God rest your soul. A Memorial Service will be held in his honor Friday, April 11th at 2:00 p.m. at the Horan & McConaty Chapel, 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave., Aurora, CO 80014. Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 2255 S. Oneida St., Denver, CO 80224. Please share condolences at HoranCares.com.