Samuel Francis

Sam Francis embodied public service. He served in the military, served on the streets of Oakland as a police officer, represented immigrants, and finally started his own law practice within two years of graduating from law school. He will be deeply missed by our Tony Patiño community.

Sam grew up in San Leandro, California. He was a man with many gifts, and he lived life to the fullest. His generous heart, gentle nature, and quick-witted humor were daily blessings to those who knew and loved him. He enjoyed life’s small pleasures with a laugh that made his entire face smile, and his wisdom often seemed beyond his years.

Samuel attended High School at San Leandro High School in California and entered the Marine Corps reserves after graduation, becoming a Radio Operator Corporal. After his honorable discharge, he held several jobs before serving his fellow citizens again, this time as an officer in the Oakland California Police Department’s canine unit. Samuel was a police officer until he retired and attended Cal State East Bay University, majoring in Spanish, followed by law school at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, where he received the Tony Patiño Fellowship for excellence in leadership and academics. He graduated with honors, earning three Witkin Awards for attaining the highest grade in his law courses and various other Certificates of Excellence, all accolades he rarely discussed.

Sam wanted to help people. His sense of duty was guided by his family’s background. His grandmother was a U.S. citizen that lived in Mexico. After marrying Sam’s grandfather, they applied for his naturalization and moved to the United States. This family background made Sam passionate about immigration and law. After graduating from UC Law San Francisco, Sam began his career as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Sam eventually started the Francis Gourgon & Gonzalez law firm with Carlos Gonzalez and his section mate, Jeffrey Gourgon, and together they represented individuals with personal injuries.

In his personal life, Sam was a dedicated father, husband, son, and uncle. He was always there for his kids and nephews. His sister remarked his love for his son was embodied by an occasion when his son wanted to learn to code, which prompted Sam to pick up a coding book to support his son.

Few knew that Sam spoke through music. He could pick up a piano or guitar and tell a story. Whether it was the clarinet or oboe, Sam could learn to play an instrument immediately. Even fewer knew that Sam was one of the best clarinetists in Alameda County, having learned to play on a whim and was subsequently invited to play in concerts because there were so few others who played in his geographic area.

On October 25, 2022, Sam was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He announced his diagnosis on Facebook and said he had a short while left to live. Fearless as always, Sam confronted the diagnosis bravely. He lived his life fully and expressed satisfaction with all he had accomplished. He told those close to him he knew where he was going, and he had no regrets. He had understood his life’s purpose was to help people along the way and to love fully. He also believed that when one’s time was over, that was that, even if that time may be shorter than we might have expected. Sam married Katie in the chapel at the hospital on November 5, 2022, before passing on February 13, 2023.

– This tribute was written by Fellow Daniel Galindo (UC Law SF, ’18)