VIRGINIA — SAM – Carl “The Candyman,” 84, a former Windber resident, went to be with the Lord Halloween night, Oct. 31, 2012. He lived in Virginia, but his heart never left Windber. Born April 9, 1928, to Andy (Aneblio Salvatore) and Domenica Sam, he lived a colorful life, beginning with a childhood in Mine 35. He held various jobs, including railroad worker, coal miner, Korean War veteran and steel worker, before beginning a 30-year career traveling the state of Pennsylvania as a supervisor for the welfare department, helping implement the state’s food stamp program. He retired in 1990 and loved making yearly trips to Houston, Texas, to assist his son, Mark, with his CPA practice during tax season. Carl was a humble, generous man who enjoyed fishing, sharing treats with dogs, Steelers football, coin collecting and giving candy to everyone he met, especially the pretty girls. He loved to dress up at Halloween and pass out candy and never missed a chance to play Santa. His favorite saying was, “I’ll be careful, but I won’t be good.” He served as an elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher at Windber Presbyterian Church and was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lou (Mills); his son, Mark Sam, and wife, Becky, and their children, Domenique and Mark Jr., Bellaire, Texas; and his daughter, Michelle (Sam) Gruessing, and husband, Joe, and their children, Emily and Sarah Grace, Leesburg, Va. He also is survived by brothers, John and Eugene, and their families; and other close relatives, the Minier and Chapasko families. He was predeceased by parents; siblings, Louis and Josephine; and beloved Golden Retrievers, Aurora and Casey, who were at heaven’s gate to greet him with wagging tails. Carl will be missed by so many, but his generous heart and devilish outlook on life will live on. At his request, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, as he was a 20-year survivor of lung cancer.
Obituaries
- Obituaries
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- District Deaths May 25, 2013
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Elizabeth L. Bongiovanni
BONGIOVANNI – Elizabeth L. “Betsy,” 78, Johnstown, died May 23, 2013, at Hollidaysburg Veterans Home.
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Maurice Leo Moore
MOORE – Maurice Leo, 93, Penn Run, died Thursday, May 23, 2013, at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
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Regis V. Varmecky
VARMECKY – Regis V. “Reg,” 62, Johnstown, passed away May 22, 2013, at home.
- Today's Funerals May 25, 2013
- District Deaths May 24, 2013
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Gregory Alex
ALEX – Gregory, 58, Pittsburgh and Kigali, Rwanda, Africa, formerly of Ebensburg, died May 22, 2013, in Pittsburgh.
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Nicholas Direnzo
DIRENZO – Nicholas, 81, Hollsopple, died May 22, 2013, at Windber Hospice.
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Fred Richard Kramer
KRAMER – Fred Richard, 83, Salix, went to be with the Lord May 22, 2013, at Memorial Medical Center.
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Zachary E. Lamer
LAMER – Zachary E., 23, Northern Cambria, passed away May 18, 2013.
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Beverly Y. Naylor
NAYLOR – Beverly Y., 77, Cambria Care Center, formerly of Johnstown, died May 17, 2013, at Memorial Medical Center.
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Shawn Michael Ohala
OHALA – Shawn Michael “Punky,” 27, Johnstown, went to be with Lord May 22, 2013, unexpectedly due to respiratory complications.
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Jamie Richard Papinchak
PAPINCHAK – Jamie Richard, 38, Bradford, Pa., went to be with the Lord Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Elkins, W.Va.
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Elimore Christine (Buksa) Picklo
PICKLO – Elinore Christine (Buksa), Grand Forks, N.D., formerly of Wilmington, Del., died May 14, 2013.
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Marlin Plummer
PLUMMER – Marlin, Phoenix, Ariz., passed away March 25, 2013.
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Timothy R. Weise Sr.
WEISE – Timothy R. “Tim” Sr., Cresson, died unexpectedly May 21, 2013, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh.
- Today's Funerals May 24, 2013
- District Deaths May 23, 2013
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John F. Chrisko
CHRISKO – John F. “Jack,” 68, Jamestown, passed away May 21, 2013, at home.
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James Joseph Hannaway
HANNAWAY – James Joseph, 82, Robindale Heights, passed away May 21, 2013, at home.
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Norman J. Lee Sr.
LEE – Norman J. Sr., 76, Cresson, passed away May 22, 2013, at home.
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Christa S. McClellan
McCLELLAN – Christa S., 42, New Florence, passed away May 20, 2013, at Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown.
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