Samuel G Roccaforte

Sam was born in Patterson, Louisiana on December 16, 1924 to B.N. and Anna Roccaforte while they were on a Christmas family reunion vacation. He was the third child of five. Sam thought he was gifted by God to have been given four lives.

His First life was to be born in Louisiana and then raised in Texas. He went to catholic school and became an altar boy when the Mass was all in Latin. He was just about to graduate from high school when he volunteered to enlisted in the U.S. Navy, during WWII.

His Second life was when he served in the Navy on the aircraft carrier Nehenta Bay CVE-74 until the end of WWII. He was honorably discharged after the war in 1946 with numerous awards and medals.

His Third and most wonderful life was when he joined the Christ the King Catholic Church CYO, where he met and married his “angel” Delia Dora Roppolo on November 16, 1946, a marriage that would endure for 68 years. They raised three wonderful children, N.J., Samuel and Geneva. They also liked to raise German Shepherd dogs and honey bees, the honey of which they shared with friends. Through their 68 years of marriage Sam and Delia traveled far and wide all over this country and quite a few places in other countries. They loved to go out dining and dancing with the many friends they made starting back in the CYO.

Building upon what he learned in the Navy he got a job with the Chicago and Southern Airlines (now Delta). He returned to night school, this time to the Houston Business College located on South Main in downtown Houston, to learn accounting and drafting. He completed his courses, graduated and got a job with the Southern Pacific R.R. During this time he joined the Knights of Columbus Council 2917. He bowled with them and was picked by the National K of C Bowling League to be the director of the K of C Southern Bowling Division. He was responsible for arranging teams and special events, including air flights and hotel reservations for the K of C bowling events for the national and international tournaments. He was recognized by the league and won many bowling trophies.

Sam went on to be hired by Brown & Root Inc. and became a project staff supervisor for the petroleum and chemical engineering division where he was responsible for the design of all types of pressure vessels for all Petrol Chemical plants. Sam retired from Brown & Root in 1981 after 31 years of service.

His hobbies included big game hunting, boating, deep sea fishing, shrimping and oyster dredging in Galveston Bay. He played softball while working at EEFCO and then at Brown & Root. He was also an adult counselor in the Boy Scouts of America at St Ambrose Catholic Church.

His Fourth life was after Delia’s death in 2014, where his time was spent with family and friends. He was involved in a number of outreach groups with his church. He journeyed far and wide with them to plays, adventures, trips and dining experiences. Even though he had many friends he always considered himself married to Delia and remained faithful to her until his death.

Sam spent several years trying to find a way to honor his brother Nicholas Joseph (N. J.), who was like a father to him. N. J. would take him for rides in his 1936 shiny black Plymouth coupe. During the war, when both of their ships were anchored in the same port, N.J. would take Sam on practice dive bombing and torpedo runs to refine his skills. This played a major part in his action at the battle of Leyte Gulf. To honor his brother’s Christian life, patriotic response to his country, and family, in 2020 Sam had a plaque installed at the National Museum of the Pacific War, Admiral Nimitz Foundation, in Fredericksburg Texas. This plaque was installed on what would have been N.J.’s 100th birthday, January 18, 2020.

He is survived by his brother B.N. “Pete” Roccaforte, sister Janice Lawson, children and spouses: N.J. “Nick” Roccaforte and wife Julie, Samuel A. Roccaforte, Geneva Feuge and husband Terry, grandchildren: Andrew Roccaforte, Taylor Roccaforte, Amy Nordhausen and husband Justin, Mandy Marks and husband Steve, Kendall Blanton and husband Patrick, and Matthew Feuge, great-grandchildren: Josephine and Juliet Nordhausen, Richard Blanton and Liliana Marks.

Visitation and Rosary will be held from 6-8pm on Sunday September 10, 2023 at Brookside Funeral Home at 9149 Hwy 6 North, Houston TX. Mass of Christian burial on Monday September 11, 2023 11am at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church at 11507 Huffmeister, Houston TX followed by a reception at the church. Burial to follow at Forest Park Lawndale. The family request that instead of flowers that you have a Mass said on his behalf.