Obituary of Sam A. Colucci

Sam A. Colucci

100 Years

Sam was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 17, 1924. He and his parents; Angelina Maurizio Colucci and Adam Colucci lived in Bay Ridge.  His sister Marie was born two years later.

Sam attended public school and religious instruction.  He graduated from Manual Training High School in 1942 and joined the Army.

He served in the US Army in World War II in the 3185 Signal Battalion. He served in France and Germany then in France again in the 256 Signal Company.  After World War II he joined the Reserves and was called up to serve in the Korean War.

After his two times in the service, Sam worked for a commodities company and attended Wagner College in the evenings. He married Constance Olsen on June 1, 1952, his “sweetheart”.

He graduated from Wagner College and he began graduate school and his teaching career in Red Hook, Brooklyn at an intermediate school.

In 1957 the family moved to Westerleigh, Staten Island. Sam started teaching grade 7 and 8 Science and Social Studies at P.S. 5., Staten Island.   He worked in the Evening Community Center at P.S. 19 and the Summer Vacation Day Camp at the Old P.S. 12.

In 1965, Bernstein Intermediate School opened and Sam was appointed as the first assistant principal of the new school.  Then, in 1971, he left to become the principal of P.S. 19.  He retired after 30 years with the Board of Education now the DOE.

He began his retired life of travel; Europe, Hawaii and cross country in the US.  (At least 4 major trips a year.)

Then he started a new job, Grandpa.  He watched his granddaughters in the mornings before school and picked up his grandsons from school in the afternoons. His latest job was Gramps. (Great Grandpa)

Sam was a pillar of Immanuel Union Church and served on the Church Board and the Board of Trustees. He was President of each board, the Chairperson of the House Committee and President of the Couples’ Club and Men’s Club.  He was a member of the Westerleigh Improvement Society.

Sam always volunteered to help his Church, his community, his neighbors, his friends and his family.

He is survived by his two daughters, Nancy Myers (John Myers) and Jane Neis (Paul Neis -Deceased) and four grandchildren, Greg Neis (Teri), Katherinne Buchanan (Dane), Timothy Neis (Jennifer), Samantha DeBarbieri (James).  He was also Gramps to 6 Great Grand Children. He was also survived by his sister Marie Zain Eldeen (nee Colucci).

He lived a long blessed 100 year life and was loved by family and many friends.

Visitation at the Matthew Funeral Home on Friday 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 pm. Funeral service to be held on Saturday at 11 am at Immanuel Union Church.