Short Eulogy Example: Dr. Sam
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If you are looking for an example eulogy for a friend, here is a short one (under 1000 words) you might find useful. Eulogies for a friend can sometimes be a bit different from eulogies for a family member. On the other hand, sometimes our friends are actually our family. This free sample eulogy or funeral speech can be used to give you some ideas to get you started. And, you can adapt for either a friend or family member. We hope it is helpful.
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
— Maya Angelou
Good morning and thank you all for being here to pay tribute to our colleague Dr. Sam. It is an honor to be here with you all as we come together to remember him. I hope these few words about him and how he lived, bring you comfort.
Working with Dr. Sam was one of the most formative experiences in my professional life. My memories of meeting him, joining his team, and getting to know him are as clear as can be. I may not have been on his team for as long as many of you have, but I’d describe his impact on both my personal and professional life as extraordinary.
When I first met Dr. Sam, I was a new attending physician. As I often floated through various units to help meet hospital needs, my newest temporary assignment was the substance use treatment program. Before walking into my initial team meeting, I did my homework and reviewed several articles and book chapters to refresh my skills. But to my surprise, I was still not prepared. My reaction to the meeting? “What the he**!”
Those of you who are on his team know exactly what I am talking about. Unlike any other team meeting I had ever been to, his did not have that usual academic and serious approach. Instead, it was filled with laughter and frankness. There was some dark humor as well - more than I’d ever come across in a hospital setting. It was both jolting AND refreshing. The perspective and wisdom in the room were palpable - the kind that we all hope to have when we are older and gray. The breadth and depth of knowledge about the inner workings of the human mind and the needs of those struggling with addiction was astonishing.
As some of you may know, substance use disorders are often tied to a history of trauma and sometimes lead to poor choices and behavior that may be difficult to understand. Yet, Dr. Sam showed compassion for every single person there. Dr. Sam didn’t call them patients - he called them people. The guidance he provided was simple: “focus on finding the pain that has led them here.” Not only did Dr. Sam commit himself to being the best he could be; his expectations of the team were high as well. He pushed us to do better and to be better. I will be honest with you - I am not sure I appreciated all of this right away. It took a while for me to move past my own discomfort of not always having the outcome we’d hoped for, no matter how hard we worked.
While I learned a lot from working with him as we cared for people, I learned just as much from him outside the hospital walls. About a week into my time there, our group spent the lunch hour together at a nearby restaurant. It was a Friday and we’d had a long week. Although I was new and used to working through my lunch break, my colleagues wouldn't take no for an answer and excitedly ushered me to a nearby vehicle. Shortly thereafter, we arrived at the best steakhouse in the area, which also happens to be one of my favorite restaurants. Walking into the restaurant was like going to visit family or being on Cheers - some of you may be too young to know that reference! But every staffer at the restaurant knew Dr. Sam’s name and greeted him (and us) warmly! Joyfully, he treated us to a sumptuous meal and conversation, just as our dads might have when taking us out for a special occasion.
Moving beyond our professional relationships and embracing our common humanity seemed easy for Dr. Sam. I noticed how he engaged with his team - so meaningfully. There were questions and interest in what we had to say. He also gave of himself and talked to us about his love for his two nieces. Dr. Sam seemed to be aware of the struggles women experience as they move through our society and he told us about his approach to teaching his nieces important life lessons. To him, his actions and relationship with them were most important. He wanted to make sure they knew they were worthy of love. This was Dr. Sam - a person who didn’t just talk about love - he made sure people experienced it. I’ll never forget how his face lit up with unbridled pride as he spoke about them - I suspect his nieces were just as proud of him.
During my time working with Dr. Sam, my substance use treatment expertise grew exponentially. I am grateful for that. Yet, it was my experiencing and witnessing his authenticity, generosity of spirit, and unwavering commitment to others that helped me grow into the physician I am today.
Dr. Sam - I am inspired by your ability to connect, love, and give. May your gifts to us remain in our hearts and our actions.
We hope you found this helpful. We have some more resources below:
FUNERAL TEMPLATES
PROGRAMS
PRAYER CARDS
BOOKMARKS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Flowers
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funeral fundraising
Did you know the average funeral costs $9,000 and almost 50% of people are concerned with how they will cover costs? People want to help when others are in need. Consider crowdfunding. Collect memorial donations easily and specifically for the funeral using the link below.*
Collect memorial donations easily and specifically for the funeral with Everloved.
online memorial
Consider creating an online memorial with Everloved. Memorial websites allow people to publish an obituary, share funeral details (including a live stream), hold a memorial fundraiser, collect photos and stories, and more - * all for free with this link.
Photos & Memories
When a death occurs, we often find comfort in our memories and photos. Whether in a collage, photo frame, poster size print, or keepsake, a photo helps us keep them alive in our hearts and memories. *Use Printique to print high-quality photos and photo gifts today.
