SAMUEL NAZZARO
Samuel G Nazzaro, age 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 20, 2024, in the home of his daughter, Dee Nazzaro with his family by his side. Although known as Sam most of his life, his birth name was Severino Gerardo Nazzaro, named after his Italian grandfather. Sam was born on May 30, 1929, in Dover, New Jersey to the late Alfonso and Mafalda Nazzaro, Italian immigrants from San Potito in the Avellino region of Italy. His father Alfonso was a shoemaker, and his mother Mafalda was a seamstress.
As a youth, Sam spent memorable summers at Coney Island with his cousins. Sam was a high school track star at Dover High School and for many years held New Jersey State track records for the half mile, mile, and other races. Although he had several athletic scholarships, he chose to attend St Louis University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and later was awarded a master’s degree in health administration, a new field at the time.
After college, Sam became an officer in the United States Army Medical Corps at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He then served in Korea during the Korean Conflict and later with the United States Army Reserves in Wheeling, WV. Before leaving the military, Sam achieved the rank of Captain and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. It was in Korea where he met his loving wife of 65 years, Domenica Mustacciuolo known as Della, who was serving at the time as a U.S. Army nurse in a MASH hospital in the war zone. They were engaged in Japan and later married in Jersey City, NJ.
After the war and marriage to Della, Sam settled in Wheeling and was employed by Wheeling Hospital for 39 years, serving as its Chief Executive Officer for 29 years before his retirement in 1993. He was named as CEO in 1964, appointed by Bishop Hodges and the Board.
During his tenure as Wheeling Hospital’s CEO, Sam was recognized as a pioneer in the expansion and improvement of health care to the citizens of the Ohio Valley. He is credited, among other things, with the vision to relocate Wheeling Hospital, now known as WVU Wheeling Hospital to its current location at Medical Park. The location and growth achieved there both during Sam’s tenure and today were all the vision of Sam. He achieved a record number of firsts for the community at Wheeling Hospital including obtaining certification for open heart surgery, expanding the Schiffler Cancer Center to a leading regional cancer center, establishing a regional kidney dialysis center and building a nationally recognized free standing Wellness Center and Continuous Care Center.
During his career with Wheeling Hospital, Sam held a number of key state and national appointments including as a member of the American Hospital Association House of Delegates, Chairman of the Regional Policy Board and a member of the Board of Trustees of American Hospital Association. He served as a chairperson of the WV Hospital Association and was a long-time member of its Board of Trustees. Sam also was selected to serve as a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health, a member of the Health Care Financial Management Association, the National and WV League of Nursing and the American Public Health Association.
After his retirement from Wheeling Hospital, Sam remained active as a health care consultant, providing services to health care physicians and other providers and served as a Trustee for the State of West Virginia Cost Care Health Authority, providing health care for the poor and less fortunate. Later at the young age of 80, Sam began working with leading national insurance companies providing employee benefit programs for health care and related industries.
Sam has always been active in the community and his church, and his philanthropy has touched both businesses and individuals throughout the Ohio Valley. Sam served as a Knight of Columbus 4th Degree, an original member of the Italian American Scholarship Foundation, the Italian Club of Wheeling, Civitan International, Fort Henry Club, Welty and Good Shepherd Nursing Homes, Governor’s task force on Youth, Children and Families, Sierra Club, Holy Name Society and American Legion Post 1.
Sam was recognized and honored with the West Virginia Hospital Association Award of Merit, Upper Ohio Valley Italian- American of the Year, Wheeling Jaycees Distinguished award and the Who’s Who in WV.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III recently recognized and honored Sam’s legacy and distinguished career in healthcare and the community. These lifetime achievements were memorialized in the Senate Congressional record of the 118th Congress.
Above all, Sam will be remembered as a devoted, loving and strong family man as well as a loyal friend to countless people. He was an innovative problem solver and counsel for family and friends alike.
Sam’s wife Della predeceased him, and they were the proud parents of four children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His younger sister Peggy also predeceased him. Surviving are his children, Rosemary Nazzaro (husband Bill Edgar) of Wheeling; Sam (Dawn) Nazzaro Jr, of Dunkirk, Maryland; Dr. Dee Nazzaro (Kelly Rine) of Wheeling; and Michael (Jill) Nazzaro of Cincinnati, Ohio. Known as “Papa” to his grandchildren, he adored them all and devoted countless hours visiting, listening and guiding them. They include Joseph, Alfonso, Dante, Valentina, Sergio, Gianna, Marcello, Michael, Nicholas, Katherine and great grandchildren Kotryna and Theodore.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Road, Wheeling, Wv 26003 (304-232-2732).
A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Michael’s Parish on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 11:00 am followed by interment at Mount Calvary Cemetery where full military funeral honors will be provided by the Moundsville Veterans Honor Guard at graveside.
Online condolences are welcome and may be made to the family at www.kepnerfuneral.com. Memorial donations can be made to St. Michael’s School.