Obituary: Samantha Handler, 1973-2026

Sam transitioned from this realm by the light of the full moon on October 25, 2026. She was surrounded by love and listening to music when she took her last breath. She was full of magic and light, and we hope all who knew her carry some of her with you each day.

Sam was born in Sonora, Calif., on January 16, 1973. She spent part of her childhood in California and part in Manhattan before moving to Vermont in 1998.

In 2001 and 2003, Sam gave birth to the loves of her life, Luna and Sofia. She cherished them more than anything in the world and was lucky to have both of them move home to live with her in the last year of her life.

Sam studied at the Parsons School of Design and received her MFA in 2005 from Vermont College of Fine Art

Sam was an artist from the very beginning. She practiced in the pottery, fiber and painting mediums throughout her life and most recently concentrated on abstract compositions featuring humans, nature and connection. Sam was a true artist, and her passion for painting and creating was tantamount to her being. Sam saw beauty everywhere she looked and documented the details of that beauty in photos and paintings nearly every single day.

Sam loved live music, and many of us were lucky to see shows with her over the years, especially Hilary, with whom she saw many a Phish show. She so loved traveling with her girls and was fortunate enough to travel with them to Portugal, England, Aruba, France, Italy, Spain and Puerto Rico in recent years.

Sam was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and was in remission for several years before being diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2016. Sam was an outlier in every way when it came to treatment. Regiments that worked for a year for most folks kept Sam’s cancer at bay for years; her doctors often referred to her as “remarkable.” Sam always made sure to focus on love and the life she was living today, rather than the cancer that worked against her for so many years.

Sam is survived by her beloved daughters; Luna and Sofia; partner, Hilary Crouse; mother, Susan Handler; siblings, Stacey and Jeff Handler (Marlene), and their children, Kenny, Liana and Isabella; cherished dog Murphy and cat Smoosh; as well as her closest friends who were like sisters — Marni, Charlotte, Maura and Liz.

We will miss Sam so much but are comforted by knowing that she is now love and energy that is around us infinitely and she is with Henry and Chacha.

Huge thank-you to the teams at the Termeer Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Vermont Cancer Center, and UVM Home Health & Hospice.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, 1 p.m., at the Channing House at Meach Cove Farms in Shelburne, Vt.