Former Tillsonburg Councillor and Community Stalwart Sam Lamb Passes Away

Friday, 25 February 2022 12:58

The flags at the Town of Tillsonburg are flying at half mast today as the community remembers Sam Lamb.

TILLSONBURG - The flags are flying at half mast today in the Town of Tillsonburg after the passing of former councillor Sam Lamb.

Sam the people's man has made numerous contributions to the Town. They have a Sam Lamb baseball field in Tillsonburg and he was inducted into the National Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame. He was born in 1927 in Springfield just west of Tillsonburg. Lamb was first elected to Tillsonburg Town council in 1992, a role he held for almost two decades. In 2013, Sam was named the Tillsonburg citizen of the year.

Sam started his baseball career in 1947 as the starting pitcher for Pan Drieds senior men's baseball team in Tillsonburg. He was always very active in community sports as player, coach and fan.

In 1973 Sam coached the Tillsonburg Jets to winning the Women's A Provincial Fastball Championship and was a member of the 1999 Canadian National Baseball Championship team.

In 2005, he coached the Tillsonburg Old Sox team to winning the Canadian National Baseball title for 35+ category in Tillsonburg.

The hardball field near the Tillsonburg Community Centre was Sam Lamb Baseball Field in 2011. Last May, Lamb was able to help plant 16 new trees at the facility, including the "Sam Lamb tulip tree" planted between the baseball diamonds.

Mayor Stephen Molnar says this is a very sad day for the town.

"Sam Lamb’s legacy in this community cannot be overstated. I had the privilege of serving two terms of Council with him, and there was never any doubt in my mind that he loved this community and wanted to see it prosper. It brought him such joy in later years to see his grandchildren and great grandchildren following in his footsteps, representing Tillsonburg, and giving back to the community he so proudly called home."

Ostrander’s Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. You can listen to the Heart FM interview with Mayor Molnar below.