Samson Richard Kabbashi

Samson Richard Kabbashi, 52, of South Portland, passed away March 28, 2018 at Maine Medical Center.  He was born January 1, 1966 in Yambio, South Sudan to Richard and Mary (Buguwa) Kabbashi where he grew up.

Sam attended Nakpangua Primary School and Movidi II intermediate School in Yambio. After graduating from Juba Day Secondary School, he went on to earn Diplomas in Medicine from Lebanese American University, American University of Beirut/ICS, University of Scranton Pennsylvania and Lebanese American University, BA in Theology, BS in Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Flint and was studying for his Certificate in Public Health/Masters in Public Health at the University of New England.

Sam has worked for several years in the medical and health care field, starting in 2000 as a Clinical Assistant at University of Louisville Medical Center. He was appointed and commissioned by the Lutheran Churches to serve the Lansing Community as a Pastor from 2001, a job he enjoyed, until 2004 when he went on to pursue a Health Care Career at the University of Michigan. Sam relocated to Pennsylvania in 2005 to work for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center until 2011 when he accepted an International position with JSI-USAID as a Health Care Consultant to South Sudan. In 2012 he was named Deputy Director for the South Sudan Transformation Project until 2014 when he was evacuated to the USA from the war-torn Country of South Sudan to join his family and community members in Portland, Maine. He finished his career at Granite Bay Care where he worked for four years as a manager.

Sam cared deeply for all of the people in his life and he cared deeply for his fellow citizens in South Sudan and has held the following leadership positions: Secretary General of Sudanese Student Association and Founder Chairman of South Sudanese Social Service at All Saint Cathedral in Beirut, Lebanon; Coordinator of Sudanese Refugees Association UHCR in Beirut, Lebanon. He co-founded the Sudanese County Church- Christ Lutheran Church (CLC) in Lansing, Michigan. Sam was perceptive in reading people and recognizing kindred spirits. He treated everyone with respect and compassion. He was a leader within the Azande communities in the U.S. diaspora and in South Sudan.

Samson was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Kabbashi and his brother, Alison Kabbashi.  He is survived by:  his father, Richard Kabbashi of South Sudan; wife, Dr. Betty Ayoub Philip-Kabbashi of South Portland; children, Jackline Sam-Neimat Kabbashi of Portland, Richard Sam-Mbonriundo Kabbashi of South Portland, and Roda Sam-Hipai Kabbashi of South Portland; grandchildren, Prosper Johnson and Prince Johnson of Portland; three sisters of South Sudan; two brothers of South Sudan and brother, Patrick Kabbashi of Portland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at Bank of America #458004468083 or online@www.youcaring.com/samandbettykabbashi-1095935.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, April 6, 2018 at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Ave., Portland.  A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.  Burial will take place in South Sudan.

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