Sam Diaz's Obituary
Captain Sam Diaz, TPD (Retired), passed away on Monday, November 7, 2022, at the age of 77. He was preceded in death by his parents Domingo Diaz and Lily Penzato Diaz, sisters Gloria Garcia and Jenita Settecasi, brothers Domingo Diaz, III and Joseph “JoJo” Diaz. Those grieving his loss are his wife of 58 years, Vivian Diaz, daughter Samantha Diaz-McGimsey (Brian), grandsons Michael Sam Menendez (Melenie) and Nicholas Sam Diaz, a sister, Arlene Vicari, a brother and sister-in-law, Angelo and Susan Diaz of Waterloo, New York and a brother- in-law, Robert Garcia along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and a soon to be born in April great grandchild. He also leaves behind his “little boy” Shih-Tzu, “Sammy Diaz” and granddaughter pup “Rummy Star Diaz-McGimsey" (aka Cheena).
Sam was born and raised in West Tampa, just at the end of World War II. He was one of the seven children of Domingo and Lily Diaz growing up on Walnut Street in Old West Tampa. Sam was a proud graduate of “the old” Thomas Jefferson High School on Ola Avenue (c/o 1964), often singing the Alma Mater with pride. He was a member of the Jefferson High ROTC and would always say “once a Dragon always a Dragon.” He attended Hillsborough Community College, St. Petersburg Junior College and St. Leo University studying Criminology. He was certified in CPR and provided training in CPR and Heimlich Maneuver as an instructor.
Sam was proud of his long career in law Enforcement, serving and protecting the citizens of Tampa as a Police Officer for 34 years and 10 days (as he would always add). He joined the force under the first Administration of Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and he soon rose up through the ranks over his long career, reaching the rank of Captain for many years, before retiring from the force in 2003. He oversaw many divisions at the Tampa Police Department including Chief of the Homicide Division. He was a Master Firearms Instructor for the Tampa Police Department. He pushed for and advocated the addition of medians on the Courtney Campbell Causeway to reduce the number of head on collisions on that stretch of roadway, helping to prevent needless deaths. He also implemented the Domestic Violence Awareness Training for the Tampa Police Department. His service in law enforcement continued as a loyal member of the Fraternal Order of Police -Tampa Lodge #27. Sam was an ardent supporter of fallen officer families and a frequent participant in Police Memorial events and services locally in Tampa, statewide in Tallahassee and at the National Police Memorial in our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. Sam was also a member of the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Committee.
Sam was a member of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Tampa and for many years he and his wife Vivian, ran the church Bingo at both Mary Help of Christians and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ybor City. Once he retired from the Tampa Police Department, Sam became a volunteer at Tampa’s Moffitt Cancer Center and he spent many years as a league bowler at Regal Lanes in Tampa. Sam, along with his friends Angelo Betancourt and Mario Castro, was also active in West Tampa Little League as a volunteer Umpire for the girls’ softball leagues. He was also a lifelong Blood Donor.
Sam loved to construct things and he could build just about anything. He also loved to work on cars, anything mechanical, making repairs and solving problems. Sam was passionate about food and especially enjoyed cooking and baking. He was the original “Foodie!” He enjoyed making many of his mother or aunt’s family recipes from Sicilian Scachatta to Cuban Crab Enchilado, from the Penzato family Spaghetti Sauce to desserts like Natilla or his famous Flan! He also enjoyed going out to eat and trying new foods and offering his classic critique on what he would add or remove to make it better. Give Sam a hot-pressed Cuban Sandwich and a crab filled Devil Crab and you would make his day.
Sam also loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed vacationing with his family on the Gulf beaches and fishing, fishing, fishing! He lived the “Salt Life” before it was a saying on the back of trucks. You put Sam on a fishing pier or on a boat with a rod and reel, some live bait and a big bag of bubble gum and he would truly be in his happy place. He also enjoyed going crabbing and scalloping and teaching and sharing the joys of fishing with others.
He loved to travel and with Vivian by his side, they visited Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Alaska and many states throughout the US. He was just as happy going camping as he was seeing the world and he and Vivian created lasting memories during the years. Sam was truly proud of his grandsons, Michael Sam Menendez and Nicholas Sam Diaz and was so looking forward to meeting his soon to be great grandchild this coming spring.
Sam was a truly larger than life personality, an unforgettable character. We will miss his acerbic wit and sense of humor. We will miss his guidance and the endless times he stepped in to offer help. We will miss his laugh and his sometime cranky ways, but above all we will miss his love and support. We miss him already.
The family would like to acknowledge retired Officer Roberto “Bert” Batista and his wife Carol for their longtime friendship and devotion to Sam and to Retired Officer Bob Wright and the retired TPD Brothers who made up the “Saturday Morning Coffee Club”, which Sam thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to so much.
Pallbearers: Roberto “Bert” Batista, Domingo Diaz, IV, Nicholas Sam Diaz, Angelo Giglia, Frank Leto, Brian McGimsey, Michael Sam Menendez, Frank “Joey” Settecasi
Honorary Pallbearers: Angelo Diaz, Robert Garcia, Joseph “Sonny” D’Arco, Bob Wright and all his TPD Brothers and Sisters.
The family wants to thank the wonderful Paramedics from the Plant City Fire Rescue and the emergency room Doctors and Nurses at South Florida Baptist Baycare Hospital in Plant City, for their extraordinary and amazing efforts and the compassionate care they extended to Sam and the family. We also want to recognize and thank the medical experts who over the past few years provided endless care to Sam, allowing us more time to make lasting memories: Dr. Clayton Pruitt, MD - Dr. Jessica Valenti, MD – Dr. Daniel A. Rozas, MD – Dr. Matthew Glover, MD – Dr. Alok Singh, MD and Dr. Jose Cura, MD and the many doctors and nurses at St. Joseph’s Baycare Hospital in Tampa.
Flowers are being accepted, but the family would also like to offer the following organizations for consideration to those who wish to make a donation in Sam’s memory: the Fraternal Order of Police (Tampa FOP Lodge #27), the City of Tampa Police Memorial and Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. Here are the contact / links and we thank you in advance for your acts of kindness in honoring Sam:
-The Fraternal Order of Police (Tampa Lodge #27)
6912 N. Florida Avenue
Tampa, FL 33604
Ph#: (813) 237-2323
-City of Tampa Police Memorial
411 N. Franklin Street
Tampa, FL 33602
Ph# (813) 276-3258 http://tampapolicememorial.org/store/Donations-c13719039
-Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church
6400 E. Chelsea Street
Tampa, FL 33610
Ph# (813) 626-6191 https://www.mhcptampa.org/
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