Community Corner

Loved Ones Celebrate Life of Sam Vanettes

Hundreds turn out to celebrate the life of Sam Vanettes, 36, a TVHS grad who was shot and killed Dec. 21 in Murrieta.

The hundreds who turned out Sunday to celebrate the life of Sam Vanettes were a testament to how much he was loved.

Three weeks after Vanettes, 36, a French Valley resident and a grad, was shot and killed Dec. 21 in a Murrieta bar—allegedly by off-duty Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Dayle Long—his family threw a party in his honor.

To read about the shooting, .

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Long recently pleaded not guilty to the crime. To read about his plea, .

"He said 'when I die, I don't want people crying. I want you guys to have a party,'" said Brandy Chamberlain, Vanettes' half-sister. "He would have liked this."

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They never thought it would come so soon.

But it had, and many of Vanettes' family and friends drove and flew in for the occasion. The celebration of life open house was held at Monteleone Meadows in Murrieta. Well-wishers included former neighbors, co-workers, schoolmates and several members of his family.

To read about what family members said about him, .

They mingled in circles, recalling memories of Vanettes. Corona resident Chris Peterson was his flight instructor. He also knows his father, Ron Vanettes, who is a pilot as well.

"He was a great pilot, very intuitive," Peterson said. "Having Ron as his dad, he probably didn't have an option."

Peterson said before and after flying, Vanettes always offered candy to everyone, and was pleased to see a candy bar at Sam's memorial.

Steve Piazza knew Vanettes when they both attended high school in Corona, before Sam transferred to Temecula Valley High. They went on to become roommates at University of La Verne, then lost touch but had recently reconnected.

Piazza said he was grateful for that.

"He was a fun-loving guy, always up for the next adventure," Piazza said. "He would give you the shirt off his back. He will be missed."

Guests also recounted hearing the news that Vanettes had been shot.

"It has been a roller coaster, like a bad movie I didn't pay for," said Tracey Voce, Vanettes' cousin.

Ron Vanettes quietly left the reception area when a slideshow of his son's life began.

"We are trying to keep happy—we are Greek," Vanettes said. "But I am way too sad for that. We can pretend publicly but in private we are a mess. Certain things just bring it back."

He was grateful for the turnout in Sam's honor, saying some had driven from Orange County and Corona and others from as far away as Colorado. His wife's family had flown in from Korea.

Sam's niece, Veronica Martinez, 19, said the number of people who came showed the difference he made in many lives.

"It's amazing, it really shows how much he was loved and how much he impacted everyone," Martinez said. "He made a difference in everyone's lives. Everyone talks about having a person—he was everyone's person."


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