Sam Anthony Passalacqua

Salvatore (Sam) Anthony Passalacqua age 82, passed away from this life into eternal life on Sunday, January 17, 2021 to join his mother Diega Antonia Bellomo Passalacqua, his father Salvatore Eduardo Passalacqua and brother Gerald Angelo Passalacqua.

Sam is survived by his daughters, Annette Passalacqua, Renee Passalacqua, and Michelle Grant and Son-in-law Jason Grant, and his two granddaughters Janelle and Madyson Grant, and his nephew Sean Passalacqua and sister-in-law Irene Passalacqua, and his many cousins in Sicily.

Born in Sicily on April 21, 1938, he was only 3 months old when he immigrated to Rochester, New York with his parents Diega Antonia Bellomo Passalacqua and Salvatore Eduardo Passalacqua. His brother Gerald was later born in 1941. His father, Salvatore made his living by designing and constructing traditional wooden furniture for the Hayden Furniture Company. Sam, as a child, learned the fundamentals of wood working from his father and attributed his own strict and meticulous perfectionism by that example.

In 1950, at the age of 12, the family moved to Los Angeles, California. While waiting for his father to join the family after tying up loose ends of their life in Rochester, Salvatore Sr died of a heart attack while embarking on his train journey to Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Los Angeles, California. He attended Nightingale Jr High School was active in the school band and other activities, he then attended Franklin High School, was on track and field, graduated in Summer Class of 1956. After graduating from high school, he attended Los Angeles Trade Technical School, later transferred to California State College to pursue a teaching credential in industrial arts. It was then after completing the course when he failed the hearing test and denied a credential when he was encouraged to enroll into the industrial design department at USC by Norwood Teague.

Sam later was married to his now deceased ex-wife Janet Rauh Passalacqua from 1962 to early 1970s. After graduating from the industrial design department at USC in 1966, he continued to working his nighttime job as a bank messenger to help finance his education. It was after graduation when Sam’s, mentor and professor of USC, Sal Merendino whose persistence and tenacity who got Sam started on with his career in design by introducing him to the Eames Office. Sal whisked Sam in his own car, drove him to the Eames Office and sat with him though the interview. Although Merendino did all the talking and declared that Sam would take the job, Sam was worried about supporting his young family, objected. He was offered $2.50 hour for a three- month trial basis, Merendino says “fine he will take it.” Sam’s 3- month probationary period working at the Eames Office turned into a 22- year career from April 1967 to 1989.

After the close of the Eames Office, he continued to keep himself busy working on many projects restoring furniture, selling memorabilia at the swap meet and becoming the caretaker for his mother before she passed away in 2004.

Family was very important to him, especially his three daughters Annette, Renee, and Michelle who he was granted full custody back in the 1974 at a time when fathers did not have rights in the case of raising their own children. His love for animals led him to adopt 20 plus dogs and 10 orphaned cats and a turtle. He was an avid photographer, always taking pictures at every birthday, holiday, daughters performing in parades and other events. He treasured the quality times he spent with his granddaughters Janelle and Madyson. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

A funeral service will be held for immediate family and friends on Saturday, March 27, 2021 with the viewing from 9 am to 12 pm at the Pierce Brothers Turner & Stevens Mortuary, 1136 E. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91176 and graveside services immediately following at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 5835 West Slauson Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the charitable organizations that were important to Sam Passalacqua to: The House Ear Institute, The Starkey Hearing Foundation, The Eames Foundation and the ASPCA.