Obituary: Samantha Calzone, East Islip HS Grad, Dies At 23

Samantha Marie Pritchard Calzone, an East Islip High School graduate, died in a horsing accident at a Hudson Valley farm this week. She was 23.

According to State Police, the accident was reported Monday on a family farm on Byrds Hill Road in the town of Dover.

Police responded to the farm at 10:45 a.m. for a report of a female fallen off a horse.

An investigation determined the horse reared for an unknown reason, and fell on top of Calzone, who was riding the horse. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Calzone was born in Redding, Connecticut, where her passion for horses bloomed throughout elementary and middle school.

She began riding at age 9 and quickly rose as a top competitor, winning blue ribbons in show jumping all along the East Coast.

Calzone then moved to East Islip, where she graduated from East Islip High School with honors.

In 2014, Samantha was accepted into the Animal Science program at University of Connecticut and joined their equestrian team.

She was elected and served as Captain for two years and was adored as a kind, talented mentor for her teammates. She also volunteered two of her spring breaks in Mississippi and Florida, where she helped with hurricane relief projects.

Calzone graduated magna cum laude from UConn in June 2018 and afterwards, enrolled at Hartpury University in England to complete her Masters Degree in Equine Science with a focus on rehabilitation.

She had just returned stateside in July of 2019 and was happy to be reunited with her family and boyfriend Michael.

According to an obituary written on Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home website, Calzone was quickly hired by Takoda Farm and it was there, pursuing her passion, that a horse reared and fell on top of her. She did not suffer.

The UConn Equestrian Team posted a lovely tribute to the recent grad on their FB page:

She is survived by her mother, Ruthann Pritchard; father, Peter Calzone; older sister, Brittany Calzone; grandparents, Jean and Rocco Calzone and family members James Holodak, Jr. and Kathy Palmer.

In addition, she is survived by her boyfriend Michael Iranpour as well as countless aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 21 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m and on Sunday, September 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home on 2900 Summer Street in Stamford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the EQUUS Foundation.

Please indicate that the donation is being made in Samantha Calzone’s memory as a memorial award is being created in her honor.