Sam G Maggio's Obituary
MAGGIO, Sam G.
95, Of Temple Terrace, passed away on Feb.6, 2019.
He is survived by his wife, Yolanda, and 3 daughters, Debra Hoffman (Gary), Lisa Hill (Lester), and Vanessa Lyons (Greg).
Survivors also include 2 sisters, Dorothy Fazzari, and Marie Bealin; grandchildren, Ryan Hoffman, Monique Shamblin (Rob), Dominic Lyons, and Vincent Lyons; 4 great-grandchildren, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
Sam was born in Tampa and was a member of the 1st graduating class of Jefferson High School. He was a WWII vet who was a member of the 2nd Infantry Division “23rd regiment”, fighting in 3 campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, and the Rhineland. He was a decorated hero and received the Croix de Guerre medal for bravery.
Sam had a long worldwide career with Mobil Oil retiring in 1985 as an aircraft maintenance and engineering manager.
Sam was totally dedicated to his family. He was known as “Nanno” to not only the immediate family, but to close friends of Sam’s children and grandchildren. Sam was a 1st generation Sicilian and was the true patriarch of the extended family as the oldest of six children. Sam was pre-deceased by brothers Vincenzo and Frank (known by many as Joe), and his sweet middle sister Nina Canella. He was a proud resident of Tampa Heights in his younger years, left for the War during his freshman year at the University of Tampa, and returned to live in Temple Terrace for over 35 years upon retirement. Sam met his beautiful bride Yolanda in Venezuela during his first assignment with Mobil and spent significant years in Libya, and Singapore. He treated his family to world wide travel with incredible recollection of people, places, and names even in his last years. Sam loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren more that life itself and left an indelible impression on all of them that will live on for generations. He was an avid reader; never fiction, mostly history, and was always available with the wisdom of his experiences and years for anyone who sought advice. He loved his 3 sons-in-law like they were his sons, and his devotion to his wife and daughters was inspiring. Sam will be interned at the National Cemetery in Bushnell and the family will host a private celebration of life on Sunday 2/17. In lieu of flowers, he requested donations to the Disabled American Veterans organization.
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