Samuel Thomas Lahanis

Samuel Thomas Lahanis, age 67, of Richmond, Indiana, passed away shortly before midnight on March 7, 2026, at Reid Hospital in Richmond with Yana and Sandie at his bedside.

Born in Evansville, Indiana on February 1, 1959, to John Samuel Lahanis and Georgia Tsoumas Lahanis, Sam grew up surrounded by his three sisters—Yana, Meme, and Theodora—and two brothers, Gus and Bill. He attended Culver Grade School, Bosse High School, Oakland City Community College, and the University of Evansville, where he excelled as an athlete in wrestling and football, earning conference, sectional, regional, and All-State honors. He was named to the 1st Team Evansville All City Quarterback Club and was inducted into the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Like his siblings, he began his working life in the family business, Sam’s Cleaners. He later served the City of Evansville as Superintendent of Oak Hill Cemetery and Executive Director of Transportation, then became Director of Wastewater Management in New Albany before taking the same role in Richmond. It was at a Richmond Kiwanis function that he met Sandie Rowe, who became his long-time companion and the love of his life.

Sam found joy in golf, sports, fishing, good food, time with friends, movies, television, and the companionship of his beloved dog, Gigi. He is survived by Sandie Rowe; his siblings Yana and husband Stewart, Gus and wife Nina, Bill, Meme and husband Jerry, and Theodora and husband Tom; and the nieces and nephews he cherished as his own—Alexandra, Zachary, Victoria, Athena, Niko, Marcus, Lucas, Adam, Tori, Margot, George, and Lily—who will miss him deeply. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Georgia.