Dr. Samuel A. Soprano Jr.

Dr. Samuel Anthony Soprano Jr, 80, of Spring Hill, FL died peacefully on Sunday, December 2, 2012. Sam was born on March 11, 1932 in Newark, NJ, son of the late Samuel A Soprano, Sr. and Virginia Mauriello Soprano. He was raised in Newark and attended Barringer High School. He later graduated from Upsala College and then received his Master's degree from Seton Hall University and a Doctorate in Education from Rutgers University. Sam served in the Army during the Korean War. In 1958 he married Lurita Landolfi and lived in Scotch Plains, NJ where they raised their four daughters. He worked in education his entire career starting as an algebra teacher in the Westfield, NJ school district. He served as Principal of Edison Jr. High School and retired as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools. His two greatest loves were his family and teaching. Even after retiring from the Westfield School District he continued to teach as an Adjunct Professor at several universities including New Jersey City University, University of South Florida and Saint Leo University. Sam and his family loved to spend time at their Pocono Pines, PA vacation home at Lake Naomi where he was active in the homeowners association and he enjoyed playing tennis, sailing and skiing. Later in life, the lure of the beautiful weather brought Sam and Lurita to sunny Florida where he continued to teach until two years ago. Sam is survived by his wife Lurita, daughters LauriAnn Soprano and husband Chet Hertz of Andover, Ma, Susan Frazier and husband Paul Frazier of Salem, NH, Grace Butler and husband Jim Butler of Glenmoore, PA and Dr. Joyce Soprano and husband Tom Chell of Salt Lake City, UT. He was grandfather to Madeline and Angela Hertz, Meredith, Kenneth and Brian Frazier, Renee and James Butler and Boden Chell. He is also survived by his brother Joseph Soprano of Toms River, NJ and his sister Josephine Barbella and her husband Theodore Barbella of Toms River, NJ and his sister in law Gloria Denton of Pocono Pines, PA along with many nieces and nephews. There will be a funeral mass on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 9:30am at St. Francis Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, 5030 Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL. The family is planning a springtime interment at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sam's favorite charity, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Stroke Clinic. Sam's lifelong interest in helping children and the life-saving treatment of his granddaughter, Renee at this institution is what made this cause dear to him. http://giving.chop.edu/goto/samuelsoprano