A Star is Gone

Hello BFF Community

It is my sad duty to report to you tonight that we have lost someone very special from our ranks.

Yesterday evening Star Sam, significant other of Jason Valenti and mother of Jahn Valenti,
was killed in an automobile accident. I received a call from Jason this evening informing
me of this tragic event.

Jason requested that any sentiments or offering of condolences please be posted on this thread,
as for the foreseeable future he will be occupied with the aftermath of this tragedy.

For those of you who didn't get to know her, she was an avid and spirited supporter of
not only the existence of sasquatch, but of alternative possibilities in life general.

She and Jason played a HUGE role in making the Bellingham Bigfoot conference in 2005
happen. She was also someone who had an empirical encounter with one of these creatures
so she had a level of conviction regarding the sasquatch that can only come from such an
experience.

She did not need any convincing; she knew.

I knew Star personally for about four years. She waged a courageous fight against multiple
physical impairments, and her spirit and courage in the face of these conditions was and
still is a tremendous inspiration for me. I will miss her contagious laugh and sparkling personality
more than I can describe in this account. I find that having to say goodbye to such a dear friend
and beautiful woman in such abrupt fashion to be harsh.

I find peace in knowing that having lived her life with such enthusiasm and love can only assure her
of lasting peace on the other side.

I will miss you Star.

Jason asked me to report to the Bigfoot community at large about Stars passing.
This forum is where both Jason and Star visited for the quality reportage in the pursuit
of the sasquatch, and he felt it an appropriate venue to announce to our fellow researchers and
searchers that she was gone.

Please join with me in mourning her untimely passing, and yet celebrate her life as she lived it,
with joy, determination and love.

Sincerely

Paul Smith
http://www.pasdraws.addr.com/

This is very sad news.

Your post was nicely worded, Paul.

sorry to hear about that, thank you Paul....

Oh, my God. This is so sad. I don't know Jason at all, but I have heard him twice on Artistfirst Bigfoot Central. He seemed very happy and social. I cannot imagine what this must be doing to him. My prayers and condolences to him and his family.

Sorry to hear of the loss, my condolences to the family.

My sincere condolences to the Valenti family. May you find peace and comfort at this very sad time.

Paul, thank you for bringing this to our attention. God bless you all.

What a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

I am so sorry.

Redwolf

Very sad. My heart goes out to the family.

My thoughts and prayers are with Jason and his family.

This is quite a shock...anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her will understand what a wonderful, caring person she was...that was certainly a special aspect of the Bellingham conference - the personal approach that Jason and Star took with everyone. Wow...this is very sad news.

Our deepest ocndolences to Jason, Jahn, their family and friends...our thoughts are with you in this dark hour.


It's hard to fathom this...it will take awhile to sink in...

here's a photo of Star and Jason leading us through an amazing weekend conference last year...

keeping you and yours in our thoughts!
- the Yamarone family

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hang in there.

I'm in complete shock. I hadn't heard the news until just now... Jason and Star have become dear friends to me over the last few years and they've both been an incredible light in my life.

This is a horrible loss for all of us. Star was one of the most powerful, inspiring women I've ever known. She was truly SPECIAL, the embodiment of all things beautiful and nurturing, and she carried a light inside of her that touched everyone who knew her.

I will miss her deeply.

My heart goes out to you, Jas... I'm here for you.

Autumn

I'm so sorry to hear this, our condolences to the Valenti family from our family. She will be in our prayers as well as her family.

Sunflower

God Bless

There are few words that will help in a time of such loss. I only had talked with Star a couple of times but it was clear she was an amazing woman. She will be missed.

John

A very sad occassion. Our thoughts and prayers to all.

hey everyone im so sorry of hearing the passing of star she is now in heaven i will be praying for her family. it sounds like she was a wonderful sasquatch researcher. good evening bill green

My thoughts and Prayers are with Jason and his family. May God Bless you all in these trying times.

Condolences to the family and especially her little son.

Local news announced the crash, its just hard to hear about someone you knew.
http://www.komotv.com/news/story_m.asp?ID=44985

Woman Killed When SUV Plunges Off Cliff
August 17, 2006
By KOMO Staff

SKAGIT COUNTY - A Bellingham woman was killed Wednesday afternoon when she drove off a road and fell 200 feet down a cliff.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Bob Wilson said Star Sams, 37, was on Chuckanut Drive just south of Larrabee State Park when the SUV left the road.

Investigators say there are no indications that drugs or alcohol were involved. A mountain rescue team from Skagit County was called in to help recover the woman's body.

The SUV remained at the bottom of the cliff Thursday morning, and it was not known whether a plan was in place to remove the vehicle.

_____________

ZOE FRALEY
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

A Bellingham woman died Wednesday evening in a single-car crash on Chuckanut Drive, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The crash occurred at 7:30 p.m., when the woman was driving her sports utility vehicle southbound near the Whatcom County and Skagit County line, at about the Clayton Beach trailhead.

The road curved to the left and her vehicle veered off the road to the right, going down a cliff, the State Patrol’s accident report said

The 37-year-old woman, who was not identified pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Troopers are still investigating the incident.

I echo completely Autumn, Tom, and Paul in their words about Star. She brightened a room that she entered, and brightened lives that she encountered. We hopefully can take comfort in knowing such a fine soul is now in an amazingly beautiful and peaceful place.

Jason and Jahn, a nation of researchers offers you prayers and thoughts. We are all with you.



kelly - MT

How awful. We were lucky enough to meet Jason and Star in Bellingham last year, and they proved to be exceptionally pleasant people. The dedication and initiative they poured into the conference was what finally pushed us to the Pacific Northwest and one of the best times we could ever know. Forever indebted we are to Jason and his people and we hope the pain becomes manageable in time.

Bigfooters often find themselves on treacherous roads. Even if you're creeping 5 mph on a logging road, wear those seat belts, people. And don't just stick the thing in there - give it a tug and make sure it's secure. If it malfunctions, have it fixed immediately.

This is very sad...
I only met Jason and Star the once and that was down in Bellingham. Lovely people who gave a weekend party that I will never forget. My condolences to the family and those who loved her.

For those of you not familliar with the area in which this tragedy happened..Google it..it is one of the most beautiful areas and paved bi-ways of Washington State which runs the gamut of farmland to ocean cliffs. A suitable place for a free spirite to finally reside.
May your maker welcome you home, Star!

Met Star only once. She was a fantastic person... I am really sorry to here she has moved on. My condolences. She will undoubtedly be missed.

Such very sad news, my thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

May God bless her family and give them strength. So sad. She's in His hands now...

This is very sad news. I too met Star at Bellingham and she made me feel right at home without even knowing me. The Bellingham Conference was a great time because of her and Jason's efforts. My thoughts are with you Jason.

Scott McClean

I had never heard of her or her family, but it is obvious she made a lasting impression on those she met. The impression I get is kindness. She was much too young to go, very, very sad. I pray her family is somehow comforted by all the kind things said by all those she met, and even those she didn't.