St. Thomas popular talk show host Sam Topp is being remembered as a familiar voice on radio and public television for close to 20 years. Topp lost a battle with lung cancer and died June 13 in Massachusetts at the age of 75.
Fans of talk radio in the Virgin Islands would tune to WVWI-AM weekday mornings to hear what Topp had to say for the day and enjoy his conversations with government leaders, community notables and his exchange of ideas with everyday people on the show called Topp Talk. For close to nine years, he also hosted a WTJX-TV show called Behind the Headlines.
Topp joined the administration of former Gov. Kenneth Mapp as deputy communications director and later took the lead as chief spokesman from March to December 2017. He also served as a member of the Hospital and Health Facilities Corp. Board in the early 2000s.
Born in Virginia on Aug. 30, 1951, he frequently spoke about growing up in Farmville, a mid-sized college town with a legacy of struggle during the Civil Rights Era. Although he would from time to time say he’d like to go back home, his final days were spent on St. Thomas.
Shaun Pennington, who worked closely with Topp, remembered a story he told her that shocked her.
“Sam was born in Farmville, in Prince George’s County, Virginia, which closed down its schools in 1959 for five years because they refused to integrate when it became law,” Pennington said.
Pennington — founder of the Virgin Islands Source — said she was in awe of Topp’s ability, as someone who missed school from second grade to eighth grade, to rise in the field of communications in the Virgin Islands.
Former TV2 sportscaster Jeremy Nicholas said he flew in to see his dad around Memorial Day and brought him back with him to Massachusetts for medical care. “He was there for four or five days and then he passed on Saturday morning,” Nicholas said.
Their family ties date back to 1986, when Sam married Claire Marie Tutela — Jeremy’s mom. Claire Topp died of cancer in 2011. “He was a great mentor. There was a lot of encouragement,” Nicholas said.
Since word of his passing spread, government leaders who knew him shared their condolences.
“Sam was more than a staff member; he was a brilliant thinker, a gifted writer, and a true storyteller who understood the power of words, ideas, and public service,” said Sen. Ray Fonseca.
“Topp Talk was more than a radio program. It was a public square, a place where Virgin Islanders could speak, be heard, and stay informed. Sam brought integrity, passion, and an unwavering love for the Virgin Islands to every broadcast,” said Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett.
And former Sen. Adlah Donastorg praised Topp’s ability to deliver complex concepts to his audience without speaking down or over the heads of anyone. “To know Sam Topp, or simply to listen to him, was to understand the power of a truly captivating voice. It was a voice rich with warmth, depth, and an undeniable authority — a unique instrument that resonated deeply across every hillside, valley, and shore of our territory. When Sam spoke, Virgin Islanders listened,” Donastorg said.
Funeral arrangements are pending; Nicholas said he would like to hold a memorial in the territory and will announce the date as arrangements come together.
