Mr. Samuel J. Battista died on March 13, 2018 at his home in East Hanover, surrounded by his loving family. Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona will be on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be offered in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Verona, on Saturday, March 17 at 10 a.m.
Born in Orange on March 16, 1929, Sam lived in Verona for 54 years prior to moving to East Hanover in 2015. He was a printer for the Verona-Cedar Grove Times for 40 years.
Sam has been a loyal member of the Verona Lions Club since 1999, serving as president, on the board of directors, a trustee on the New Jersey Lions District Charitable Foundation , as a trustee and president of the Lions District 16E Charitable Foundation and he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, which is the highest award recognized by Lions Club International.
His greatest passion was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great granddaughters. He is survived by his wife, Jeannie (nee Rettino) Battista, his children, James, Samuel (Natalie), Susan Gramcko (Walter) and Jeannie Liska (Gordon).
He is also survived by his siblings, Mary Battista, Geri Gasparino, Thomas Battista, his grandchildren, Michael and Samantha Battista, Christopher and Kathryn Gramcko, Tara, Danielle and Renee Liska, Sam and Jenna Battista, Olivia and Alexis Battista and his two great-granddaughters, Hailey and Sophia Battista. He was predeceased by his siblings, Anthony, Joseph, Jean Aquino and Ann LaStella.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital would be appreciated.
Sam, you will be missed. you always made my family feel like part of your family. will miss you at family gatherings and talking to you. rest in peace my Friend.