Samuel Albert Christiano

Born in Orange, N.J., to John and Mary Christiano, Samuel graduated from West Orange High School in 1939. He interrupted his college studies, first at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and then at Seton Hall University, when he enlisted in 1942 in the United States Army Air Forces. After technical training as a weather observer at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Ill., Samuel was assigned to the 18th Weather Squadron and attached initially to the 8th Air Force at Debden Aerodrome in Essex, England. He then joined the headquarters staff of the United States Strategic and Tactical Air Forces (USSTAF) in London, where he helped to provide weather support for offensive American air operations over occupied France, over Normandy for the Allied invasion, and over Nazi Germany itself. Following D-Day in 1944, he moved to USSTAF Weather Central at Saint-Germain-en-Laye in France.

Samuel attained the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Army, with five overseas service stripes. In addition, he received the Army’s European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, with two bronze service stars. Among his awards from France were membership in the Legion of Honor, with the rank of Chevalier (Knight), “for services rendered to France or to the ideals that it upholds," and the Jubilee of Liberty Medal from the Regional Council of Lower Normandy.

After the war, Samuel worked in factory settings during the day and enrolled in law classes at night. He received the degree of LL.B. from the Fordham University School of Law in 1949, and spent the next 40 years practicing law in New Jersey; during the last 30 he was the attorney for the West Orange Board of Education. At the same time he took an active role in community affairs, serving as the Commander of the Glennon-Sayers Post 376 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in West Orange, as president of both the Roseville (Newark) and West Orange Lions Clubs, and as a trustee of the West Orange Public Library. Samuel was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in West Orange, where he also was a trustee. For his service to the Archdiocese of Newark, he was recognized in 2000 with the Jubilee Award Pro Meritus Medal.

Beloved husband of 56 years to the late Mary P. “Pat” Christiano (nee Greene); loving father of Stephen Christiano and his wife Adele of West Orange, Kevin Christiano of South Bend, Ind., Patricia Christiano and Maureen Christiano of Summit, and Donna Campisano and her husband James of Lithia, Fla.; adoring grandfather of Carolyn Christiano, Cynthia Emporellis and her husband George, Angela Christiano, and Samuel and Luke Campisano; dear brother of the late John Christiano; and dear friend of Diane Hanley.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 26, from 4 - 8 p.m. at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 145 East Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, N.J. The funeral Mass will be Thursday, September 27, 10 a.m., at St. Joseph's Church, 44 Benvenue Avenue, West Orange. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J.

The Christiano family wishes to express its special gratitude to Samuel’s dedicated caregivers: Ella Tillman and Vanessa and Michael Kissoon.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Samuel’s name to the Livingston First Aid Squad, 50 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, N.J., 07039, would be greatly appreciated.