Samuel Anthony Fiorenzo

Samuel Anthony Fiorenzo

Samuel Anthony Fiorenzo, age 93, of Erie, passed away Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Saint Mary's at Asbury Ridge. He was born March 9, 1923 in Erie, the son of the late V. James Fiorenzo and Fiora (Bonaminio) Fiorenzo.

Sam graduated from Strong Vincent High School. Following graduation he worked at the Erie Forge and Steel as a tool dresser and then enlisted in the USAAF in 1943. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, and served as Flight Engineer aboard a B-29 bomber. After being discharged from the service he returned to Erie and married Rose A. Galdini, of Johnsonburg, PA. He was employed at numerous industries as a draftsman until he was hired by Lord Corporation as a Tool Designer in 1952. In 1977 he was promoted to Senior Tool Engineer at Lord and in 1981 he was promoted to Tool Engineering Specialist. He was the first Tool Engineer at Lord to hold this title. Sam retired from Lord in 1988 after 35 years of service. He was also an active member, for many years, in the American Society of Tool and Manufacturing Engineers. Sam also taught Engineering courses for 17 years at Penn State Behrend in their Continuing Education Department.

Sam was a devout Catholic and member of Blessed Sacrament Church. His hobbies included photography and wood working. He was an avid photographer and member of the Erie Color Slide Club for many years. After retiring he took up woodworking and belonged to "Santa's Helpers", a group that made wooden toys for under-privileged children. Sam was always working on something. If he wasn't in his dark room or woodworking shop, he was fixing "something for somebody". No matter what it was, we never needed to call a repairman because he'd figure out the problem and fix it. In retirement, he and his wife Rose also had the opportunity to travel to Italy to tour the country, meet their Italian relatives, and visit the birthplaces of their parents.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved sisters, Filipa and Evelyn, his brother Nello and his beloved wife, Rose.

He is survived by his son Craig Fiorenzo and his wife Wendy, his two daughters, Gail Wilson and her husband Gary and Lynn Fiorenzo and her boyfriend Greg Stiffler, all of Erie. He is also survived by his brother Adelmo (Adam) Fiorenzo and many nieces and nephews.

The family would especially like to thank all the staff at Saint Mary's at Asbury Ridge for all their support and great care given to Sam throughout his stay there.

Friends are invited to call on Friday at Saint Mary's at Asbury Ridge, 4855 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA 16506, from 9 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass there at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Saint Mary's at Asbury Ridge or to the charity of one's choice. The John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, is handling arrangements