Salvatore Domenico Tropea

Salvatore Domenico Tropea, also known as Sam or Sammy, was born on July 22, 1944 in Washington D.C. to his Italian immigrant parents, Domenico and Guiseppina Tropea. He was the youngest of 6 kids. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Washington D.C. in 1962. He went on to study Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1966. He was then hired by the Federal Communications Commission and worked for the FCC from June 13, 1966-January 5, 2005.

He married his Mary Beauty on September 9, 1967, who was his bride of 50 years. Sam and Mary lived in Maryland until 1978 when they relocated to a house they built on Fox Hound Drive in Nokesville, Virginia. They raised their 4 kids at Fox Hound and moved to Orlando, Florida in May of 2014.

Sam was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in April of 1996. On January 22, 1998 he underwent a bone marrow transplant at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C. Sam’s sister, Nina Policicchio, was a perfect match and lovingly donated her stem cells that ultimately allowed Sam to live for 25 more years.

Sam was a beloved husband, father, grandpa, nonno, great grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend whose passion in life was to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to be a bold witness for Christ.

He is survived by his sisters Grace LaChina of Maryland and Nina Policicchio and brother in law Charlie Policicchio of Merritt Island and sister in law Joanna Tropea of Merritt Island. He is also survived by his daughter Angela Marie Goebel and her husband Christian Goebel of Luray, Virginia, his daughter Mary Josephine Nestor and her husband Charles Nestor II of Melbourne, Florida, his daughter Sandra Jean Griffith and her husband Jason Griffith of Lakeland, Florida, and his son Salvatore Domenico Tropea Jr. and his wife Oni Tropea of Lake Wales, Florida, 12 grandchildren plus 3 by marriage, 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at South Coast Calvary Chapel in Melbourne, Florida at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 4645 US-1, Melbourne, Florida 32935.

Please send gifts in Sam’s honor to South Coast Church, 4645 US-1 North, Melbourne, FL 32935.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FloridaMemorialFH-Gardens.com for the Tropea family.