Los Osos High School band director Sam “Doc” Andress killed himself Wednesday, April 10, hours after resigning from the position he’s held since 2001, officials confirmed Thursday.

“This week, the Chaffey Joint Union High School District was notified of a law enforcement investigation involving Dr. Sam Andress, band director at Los Osos High School,” Superintendent Mat Holton wrote in a media statement released Thursday afternoon. “Yesterday, April 10, 2019, Dr. Andress was presented with information we had received and following that conversation, he submitted his voluntary resignation. Later that afternoon, the district received a call from a law enforcement representative tragically sharing that Dr. Andress had taken his life.”

Cindy Bachman, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, said detectives investigated allegations a parent brought to a school resource officer Tuesday regarding a conversation Andress had with a student on social media.

Detectives reviewed the log of the conversation between Andress and the student and saw no sign that Andress knew he had been communicating with a minor.

“Detectives concluded that no crime had occurred,” Bachman said.

Counselors, psychologists and therapists were on hand Thursday at Los Osos in Rancho Cucamonga to help students and staff deal with the news, Holton said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Andress’ family and loved ones,” Holton’s media statement concludes. “Dr. Andress had been part of the Los Osos family since the school opened in 2001. His passing has created a sense of inconsolable loss – especially within the band community and for staff members who knew and worked with him.”

Andress, 40, was a part-time lecturer and the concert band conductor at UC Riverside.

“We’re saddened by the news and we send our condolences to his family, students and friends,” UC Riverside spokeswoman Sandra Martinez said Thursday.

Sam Andress directs an orchestra at a recent performance. (Courtsey of UC Riverside)

Sam Andress directs an orchestra at a recent performance. (Courtsey of UC Riverside)

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Sam Andress directs an orchestra at a recent performance. (Courtsey of UC Riverside)

Sam Andress directs an orchestra at a recent performance. (Courtsey of UC Riverside)



San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive man Wednesday in the 8200 block of Leucite Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga, Bachman said. Deputies found Andress, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The county coroner’s office determined the death to be a suicide, officials said.

In addition to his positions at Los Osos and UC Riverside, Andress was the director for the Southern California Ambassadors of Music touring band and co-founded the Rancho Cucamonga Community Band.

“We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Dr. Sam Andress,” a message posted to the Southern California Ambassadors of Music Facebook page reads in part. “We are forever grateful for his leadership and companionship throughout the tour in Europe in summer 2018.”

Chaffey district officials converged on Los Osos after learning of Andress’ death Wednesday evening. Holton said Thursday that every member of the Los Osos staff was called last night to inform them of what happened.

“We will all continue to have questions that won’t be answered and — as we continue to grieve — our focus will shift to our students who will be looking for help as they process the loss of their teacher,” an email sent by Holton to Los Osos staff Thursday morning reads in part. “At times, our hearts will break for them and we must pay close attention to each one as they may hurt in different ways, understanding that many of us will be faced with these same feelings. Counselors, psychologists and therapists will be on hand and ready to help as needed. … Know how important you will be in the lives of your students and colleagues.”

The Chaffey Joint Union High School District community has been hit with multiple suicides this school year. Three Chaffey students killed themselves in the first few weeks of the 2018-19 school year, spread out at three of the district’s 12 schools.

If you are considering suicide, or someone you know is, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

Staff writer Beatriz Valenzuela contributed to this report.

Note: This story has been updated since it was published to clarify that detectives did not interview Andress, but reviewed the communications between him and the student to determine that Andress believed he had been communicating with an adult, rather than a minor.