The South Sydney Rabbitohs are mourning the passing of long time Member and sponsor, Sam Maxwell, whose fight against pancreatic cancer ended last week at the age of 38.
Sam, who ran his family’s business alongside his father Gary - G & M Maxwell Electrical, was a staunch advocate of the Rabbitohs, sponsoring the Club for nearly two decades and being a Rabbitohs supporter for his entire life. Sam and Gary were responsible for literally turning the lights on for the Return to Redfern matches and making sure the ground was powered up for games and events at the spiritual home of the Rabbitohs for many years.
Sam, who loved wearing his ‘Sutto 300’ t-shirt in and around the South Sydney area in which he lived and worked, was given a grim diagnosis in 2020 which meant he was limited in the number of Rabbitohs games he would see in the immediate future. Sam tried to get to as many games as he could at the start of last season, including a trip to Dubbo in a helicopter with one of his best mates, Jeremy Scott, to watch the Rabbitohs take on the Panthers in May. Jeremy and another of Sam’s great mates, Matt Taylor used to work in the Rabbitohs’ corporate team and all three shared great times revolving around the South Sydney Club over their near-four-decade friendship.
Sam, a former junior player with the South Sydney Mustangs who helped referee junior matches, showed the famous South Sydney fighting spirit to see the Rabbitohs play out the rest of the season and to play in the 2021 Grand Final, something that his family and friends would not have thought possible after his initial diagnosis.
The Rabbitohs players and coaching staff, with the help of former Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson and current Head of Football Mark Ellison, provided support to Sam and his family, sending videos of support from their Gold Coast base over the Finals Series, as well as then-captain Adam Reynolds having a lengthy phone call with him on Dally M night in Brisbane. Sam made it clear he wanted to thank the players and the Club for taking time out of their schedules to give him and his family a lift in difficult times.
Sam is survived by his wife Joanna Golotta-Maxwell, his three-year-old twin daughters Frankie and Lottie, his parents Gary and Maree, and his sisters Amanda and Alicia.
Sam made his wishes known to his family that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Souths Cares to support their community programs that help so many people in the community, as was his selfless and giving nature.
“Sam lived a life to serve others. Always,” Joanna said.
“He never thought of himself and would shoulder every burden and lift any heart above his own. Everyone in Sam’s life knew it was a privilege to be loved by him.
“He fought a long and traumatising battle with cancer, but he did it with love.
“I am so glad that Sam is able to contribute to Souths Cares. Outside of his family and friends, the Rabbitohs were his passion and joy.”
To make a donation to Souths Cares as per Sam’s wishes, click this link, and when making your donation, comment in the comments box that the donation is ‘In memory of Sam Maxwell’. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible and you will be issued with a receipt following completion of your donation.
Souths Cares will work with Sam’s family on which programs the donations will support that best fit Sam’s ethos and his love of the Club and the South Sydney district. This will assist in leaving a lasting legacy of Sam’s passion for the Club, the community he lived in and his selfless support of others throughout his life.
On behalf of everyone connected with the Rabbitohs, we offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sam Maxwell.
