April 1954 – August 2021
In the Spring of 1954 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a young mother handed over her three-day old son to a couple who long yearned for a child of their own. Manuel Jojola, a medicine man from Isleta Pueblo, and his wife, Lupita, took in their newly adopted son and named him Samuel Jojola — a boy who would grow up to become a prison guard, an undercover agent, background actor, and, most importantly, a loving husband, father and grandfather.
While Sam’s parents loved and cared for him deeply, throughout his childhood they never disclosed he was adopted. His parents raised him as a Native American and instilled in him a deep love and curiosity for the mystery of creation.
On deer hunting trips with his father, Sam would learn respect for the earth and nature through ceremony and prayer. Reverence for the environment and animals would later set the stage for a decorated career as an undercover wildlife agent and a voice for endangered species, most especially birds.
Thanks to an infatuation with birds that began around age 10, Sam became known as a living encyclopedia who could immediately identify a species just by hearing its song. His remarkable mental record of birds began in his backyard as a deeply curious child. With perfect penmanship, Sam would meticulously document bird sightings in a notebook while watching a bird bath through the kitchen window.
At age 18, Sam entered the U.S. Army just as the Vietnam War was ending. Before his trip to boot camp, his parents finally told Sam he was adopted. The shocking disclosure had a life-long and profound impact on Sam’s worldview. Many unanswered questions about his identity would begin a deep yearning to find his birth mother and his true self.
After several years of military service and an honorable discharge, Sam’s military training would lead to a very short career as a prison guard in Santa Fe. Sam was recognized for running down and catching an escaped prisoner during his time working at the state penitentiary. He left before the infamous 1980 Santa Fe prison riot, but knew many of the prisoners and guards involved in the incident.
Sam met Linda Blea in Santa Fe, and shortly after the two married they moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree at New Mexico State University with a focus on wildlife management. Sam had his first son, Jeremy, graduated, and began his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). His first job was a wildlife refuge officer in Socorro, New Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas.
Eventually Sam’s talent of connecting with anybody of any background led him to become an undercover special agent in the USFWS special operations division, beginning in Los Angeles.
Posing as a buyer of rare and endangered wildlife, Sam often fooled criminals who were looking to profit off the vulnerability of animals he so loved. He would put himself in extremely dangerous situations while undercover. In one such case, he infiltrated a group of armed poachers who used hunting dogs to surround black bears for sport. Sam was sly and cunning and extremely likeable, which helped ensnare numerous other criminal suspects throughout his career.
Using his investigative skills and with some luck, Sam eventually found his birth mother, Margie Reardon (Nelson) in the mid-1980s. Margie had eight other children after Sam, but never forgot her first-born son. They reunited, which rekindled their relationship and began an everlasting connection to the Nelson and Reardon family. Sam continued his relationship with Margie and made special connections with his eight new brothers and sisters.
Shortly after finding his birth mother, Sam had his second son Matthew in Los Angeles, and a few years later moved his family to Reno, Nevada, where he continued to work undercover and hold mining companies accountable for killing migratory birds that would die in open cyanide pits.
On September 11, 2001, Sam happened to be in Washington D.C. during the terrorist attacks. Immediately he served his country by guarding federal properties near the Pentagon and then he became a deputized Federal Air Marshal. Sam spent months in plainclothes flying across the country to protect passengers and flight crews. Ironically, Sam always hated flying, but loved serving others and his country.
After a long distinguished career with the USFWS, Sam retired and lived in Redondo Beach, California, with his new wife, Susan Hands. The Hands family embraced Sam and he became known as “Papa Sam.”
Sam was busy during retirement. Around the Surfrider building where he lived, Sam was constantly helping senior residents run errands and became known as the go-to-guy who could get things fixed.
Sam used his professional work experience to play various background roles in films and movies. In the film Stand Up Guys, he played a prison guard and shook Al Pacino’s hand in a scene. He can be seen in the background in several other popular shows, including Mad Men and NCIS.
Out of a remarkable life with so many careers and job titles, the role Sam loved the most was husband, father and grandfather. Sam had a reputation of being extremely likeable, fun, goofy, charming and empathetic.
Like a bird, Sam was resourceful and quick. He earned his angelic wings during 67 years of life. Sam loved his family who will always remember the man who lived like a beautiful bird — a man with so many brilliant colors.
Instead of flowers, Sam’s family is asking for donations to the Audubon Society in his name. You can call 1-844-428-3826 to make a donation in Sam’s memory.
SAM 