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Something For Sammy

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By JASON GEARY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

Updated: 02/18/2008 10:44 pm

CITRUS PARK - Anthony "Sam" Santilli shouts praises to the Killer Rabbits hustling on the field and greets parents arriving to watch the action.

It has not quite been a year since Santilli's 16-year-old son Sammy, a former member of the teenage boys soccer team, was fatally struck by lightning at a beach on Treasure Island.

The 50-year-old Seminole Heights resident continues to attend the team's soccer games and practice sessions. He said his son would want him to stay loyal.

"I feel like he would want me to be here," Santilli said. "These boys need me. I'm an adult. I try not to cry around them ... It's tough, but they need me. They want me to be there. I'm a loudmouth, and I cheer loud. My son loved that about me."

A bronze plaque was posted last month in his son's honor at the Carrollwood field on Casey Road where the team practices.

Parents, teammates and coaches also hope that the next tribute will be to install a lightning detection system at Ed Radice Sports Complex in Citrus Park. The facility is where the recreational soccer team plays its games.

Organizers said they have collected about $6,800 toward purchasing an $11,000 system that would activate alarms if dangerous lightning is detected. Thunderstorms are common in the Tampa Bay area, known as the lightning capital of North America.

A less sophisticated device for detecting lightning exists at the facility, said John Brill, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.

Brill said he had not heard about the fundraising efforts, but that the project sounds promising.

"We are open for suggestions," he said.

The Killer Rabbits' current season was dedicated to Sammy's memory. The team recently won a Tampa Area Scheduling Association tournament.

"I go out there, and I play for him," said Marcelo Juarez, 16, of Brandon.

Juarez and Sammy became best friends in seventh grade and were planning to get scholarships to attend the University of South Florida together.

"He was energetic," Juarez said. "He was always laughing. He made everybody laugh. There was never a boring moment with him."

The Hillsborough High School student played baritone in the Big Red Marching Band and was on the varsity soccer team. He also played for the Killer Rabbits, a Hillsborough County United Soccer Club team.

"If he wanted to do something, he was passionate, and he wouldn't quit until he got to be good at it," Santilli said. "Then, he tried to be the best."

Robert Dammers, one of three coaches for the Killer Rabbits, described Sammy as a talented right winger with a positive attitude. He suffered a broken arm in January 2007 but spent time on the sidelines to support his team.

"He came out every game no matter what - even with his cast," Dammers said. "He was absolutely the spirit of the team."

Santilli said his son got the cast removed not long before he was struck by lightning and was looking forward to getting back on the field.

Sammy had also just gotten his driver's license. He was earning money at his first job as a theater employee at Regal Citrus Park 20.

His mother was planning to visit. He had not seen her in more than a year. They were going to spend time hanging out at the beach. He expected to pay for the hotel room and told his mother to bring nice clothes for dinner.

"He made sure every little detail was taken care of," Santilli said.

During his mother's visit, Sammy was struck about 10:30 a.m. July 20 at the Treasure Island Municipal Beach.

Before the strike, Sammy had called his father from his cell phone to find out how he was doing at work.

Santilli said his son and his ex-wife were planning on going to breakfast and were walking on the beach.

Father and son hung up after saying they loved each other. Sammy always ended his conversations like that, Santilli said.

Moments later, a bright orange bolt came out of the sky and struck his son.

"He got hit right in the chest," Santilli said, rubbing away tears.

The strike threw him up in the air, and he landed face-first back into the sand. The lightning also hurt his mother.

"It went down through the sand and came up through her feet," Santilli said. "It blew her spleen out. She still has neurological problems from the whole situation. She couldn't get up to help him because from the lightning she was paralyzed. So she started screaming."

Sammy died in the hospital four days later. For his funeral, the boy was dressed in his Killer Rabbits uniform.

"He had a nice suit, but he lived for soccer," Santilli said. "He told us that he was going to be a professional soccer player some day."

The players wore T-shirts with a picture of Sammy underneath their uniform shirts. They took off their uniform shirts and placed them in the casket.

"That was the most touching moment as a team for all the kids to be there and do that," Dammers said. "It still brings tears to my eyes to just think of it."

Santilli remains a spirited supporter of his son's team. His booming voice calls over from the sidelines urging them to play hard, to play for Sammy.

Although he doesn't describe himself as a religious person, he said his son's sudden death was God's will.

"He's in my heart and in my memories. He'll never leave me," Santilli said. "I love that boy."

TO CONTRIBUTE

Donations for the lightning detection system for Ed Radice Sports Complex can be made to the Hillsborough County United Soccer Club. Checks should be made payable to the Hillsborough County United Soccer Club, with "Lightning Detection System" in the memo line. The address is P.O. Box 272051, Tampa FL 33688.

Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at (813) 865-1505 or jgeary@tampatrib.com.

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