Samuel "Sammy" Agostini

Samuel (Sammy) Agostini, 90, of Old Forge, longtime proprietor of Agostini Bakery, Old Forge, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Madelyn (Husosky) Agostini, in 2016. The couple was married for nearly 60 years.

Born in Old Forge on March 14, 1932, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Kathryn (Marino) Agostini. He was a 1950 graduate of Old Forge High School. Upon graduation, Sam attended the University of Scranton and left to serve his country by joining the United States Air Force. He was proud to serve and told many stories about being stationed in France and Germany. He received a National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He made many good friends along the way.

While Sam was still stateside, he belonged to a musical group called "The Cameos." He played guitar with his sister, Marie (Agostini) Alexander, who was the vocalist, John Perfetto, saxophonist, and Eugene Polaski, accordionist. The group played in several clubs in the area, most notably the Cameo Club in Pittston.

Sam's wife, Madelyn, remembered seeing him playing at one of the band's music venues. As fate would have it, the couple was later set up on a "blind date" by friends and continued to be sweethearts as Sam served overseas. They married in 1956, shortly after his return. He loved his wife dearly and carried her in his heart each day he was separated from her upon her passing.

Sam spent nearly 60 years working at Agostini Bakery, his family's business, started in 1907 and run by four generations of family. Early on, he delivered bread up and down "The Line" serving hundreds of customers, mom and pop storefronts, pizza places and hoagie shops along the way. "Sammy" was well known by his customers, and he got to know many of them as friends. Sam became the proprietor of the bakery in the early '80s and continued to serve customers along with his son, Bob, until his retirement at age 84 in 2016. He will be missed by many.

Sam loved his family. He especially loved having everyone together during the holidays and family get-togethers. He was a wonderful dad and a proud grandfather who loved watching his granddaughters grow up.

He is survived by two children, a son, Robert Agostini, and wife, Angela, of Laflin; a daughter, Lynne Agostini Dismukes, and husband, Ryan Dismukes, of Collinsville, Conn.; two granddaughters, Nina Agostini and Chloe Dismukes; cousins, many nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.

His sister, Marie (Agostini) Alexander, preceded him in death in 2013.

Sam's family would like to thank his caregivers, who have shown such kindness and compassion to him over the last few years. They had become a "second family" to him. His life was certainly enriched in their care.

The funeral will begin Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. from Ferri & Gillette Funeral Services LLC, 522 Fallon St., Old Forge, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Basilica, 1250 St. Ann's St., Scranton. Interment with military honors will follow in Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. To leave an online condolence please visit www.ferrifuneralhome.com or the funeral home Facebook page.