Sam Trapani

Sam J. Trapani

SPRINGFIELD-Sam J. Trapani, 90, of Springfield, IL, died on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at St. Joseph's Home. He was born September 7, 1920 in Lawrence, MA, the son of John and Cora Agricola Trapani.

Sam was a graduate for the Naval Academy at Annapolis in June of 1943. He served in the Navy aboard a heavy cruiser, the Tuscaloosa, with the Atlantic Fleet and took part in the invasion of Normandy and Southern France. Later he was transferred to the battleship, Nevada, and served with the Pacific fleet during the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He resigned from the Navy in 1947 and entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he graduated in 1949 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

He worked as an engineer at the hydrogen bomb plant in Dana, IN and at the atomic plants in Paducah KY and Portsmouth, OH. He also worked with the State Highway Department in Paris, IL for nearly two years. He then joined the staff of Hurst-Rosche Engineering Firm in Hillsboro, IL, where he worked until going into business for himself in Springfield. He was president of Trapani Engineering Company until he retired.

Surviving is one daughter, Aurora Rubel of Paris, KY; Jean Kirk, his friend and companion; a grandson, Mathew (Katie) Rubel of Lexington, KY and his sister, Mary (Dominic) Marino of Andover, MA. His son, John, died in 1999 at the age of 48.

Sam was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, the Knight of Columbus, Elks Club and the Eagles Club.

Visitation: 9:30-10 a.m., Friday, December 3, 2010 at St. Joseph's Home Chapel.

Funeral Mass: 10 a.m., Friday, December 3, 2010 at St. Joseph's Home Chapel with Reverend Charles Dahlby officiating. Interment and military honors conducted by the Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Home or Memorial Home Hospice.

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