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Samuel Tomatore Obituary

Samuel R. Tomatore
Samuel Robert Tomatore of Monroe passed away peacefully in Bridgeport, surrounded by his family, on May 26, 2025, at the age of 86.
Sam was born in Bridgeport on July 2, 1938, to Carmella (Millie) Petitte and Samuel Robert Tomatore, the second of four children. He grew up in Bridgeport and attended Fairfield Prep before embarking on a fifty-year career at First National Supermarkets in Stratford, where he worked his way up from grocery clerk to Store Manager. He was especially proud of the relationships he built with his customers, who often referred to it as "Sam's Store."
Sam was an avid sports fan who loved watching the Yankees, Jets, Notre Dame football, and UConn Basketball, especially "his girls." Above all, his greatest accomplishment and deepest love was his family, particularly his children.
Sam is survived by his son, Keith (Meredith) of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; his daughter, Karen, of Shelton; his sister, Anne DeGeralomo, of Monroe; and his brother, Russell (Aida Marquez), of Trumbull. He also leaves behind his former wife, Barbara (Baldini), his niece, Erika Tomatore, and many beloved cousins.
He was predeceased by his brother Francis (Elaine) of Santa Barbara, California; his brother-in-law Frederick DeGeralomo; and his parents.
The family would like to thank the many caregivers who assisted Sam over the years, especially the nurses at Bridgeport Hospital who attended to Sam with such care during his final days.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Jude Church, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. Entombment will follow in the St. Catherine Mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may greet the family on Friday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 500 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 at www.stjude.org or to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, PO Box 9057, Bridgeport, CT 06607-9057 at bridgeportrescuemission.org. To leave an online condolence please visit www.abriola.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Connecticut Post on May 29, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
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Kevin Edwards

May 30, 2025

My deepest condolences to Sam's family, I worked with Sam at both the old and new Finast stores on Barnum ave in Stratford from 1965 to 1968 while attending Stratford High and NSTC as a cashier/ grocery clerk.He was a great guy to work for and with along with Bob VanEtten,Mike Pinto and the rest of the crew.My late uncles( Joe/ Jack and Bill Gregory) also worked with Sammy at the Finast store in Bridgeport on Noble ave.
Lots of fun times and great memories- he will be missed.

ANNA MARIE SZALAN

May 30, 2025

My condolence to Sam's family. He was a wonderful cousin and I am so
sorry that he has passed. May he rest in peace.

Dawn Altieri

May 30, 2025

I´ve known Sam since I was a little girl. He was good friends with my grandfather Mike "Mickey" Altieri. They worked together at First National. I can remember Sam always over my grandparents house and him coming to pick me up from nursery school on a few occasions with my grandfather. Many years later I had the pleasure working with Sam at Stop & Shop. We would talk about my grandpa whenever I would see him, which made me happy. He was such a nice man who I truly respected. My prayers go out to his family.

Marie DeFrancis

May 30, 2025

So very sorry for your loss. Had the pleasure and honor of working with Sam at Stop & Shop for a brief time always a gentleman. May he rest in peace

Georgeann Erhardt

May 29, 2025

In the late 60's I had the pleasure of working at the new First National on Barnum Ave where Sam was working. He was such a nice man, upbeat and a pleasure. Yrs later my husband worked with him, and he still talks now and then about what a great guy he was. At that time, he was store manager. I am sorry for your loss.

Mike DiToro

May 29, 2025

Sam was my first boss when he hired me at Finast when I was 16. I remember when the bottle redemption law went into effect in Connecticut and I was helping to setup the redemption area in the front of the store. Sam looked at the setup, and all the space it took, and said, "Ella, we really don't need this," referring to Governor Ella Grasso. I remember him as a good and decent hard-working boss who was always available.

The photo is of a ticket to a dinner for Sam when he was transferred out of the Stratford store. I recently found it in an old wallet from high school.

Rest in peace, Sam.

A Vendor

May 29, 2025

As a former vendor delivering to his store, Sam was a true gentleman. RIP

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Memorial Events
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May

30

Visitation

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Abriola Parkview Funeral Home

419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull, CT

May

30

Mass of Christian Burial

10:30 a.m.

St. Jude Church

707 Monroe Tpke., Monroe, CT

Funeral services provided by:

Abriola Parkview Funeral Home

419 White Plains Rd, Trumbull, CT 06611

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