Serafino Gentile

 Serafino Gentile, (“Sam” or “Finuccio”) age 96, a Stamford, CT resident since 1960 passed away on April 17 , 2025 at home surrounded by his loving family.

Sam was born on March 2, 1929 in Settefrati, Italy, the son of the late Loreto and Loreta (DioProsperi) Gentile.

Sam immigrated to the United States on the Italian ocean liner – the SS Andrea Doria, arriving in New York in 1956. It was the ship’s last voyage before it collided shortly thereafter with the passenger liner Stockholm in Massachusetts.

He became a proud American citizen early on living and working in New York until moving to Stamford where he enjoyed working in construction for Frank Mercede & Sons, Inc. for 34 years.

Sam had a passion for fishing and tending to his vegetable garden. He enjoyed the Italian traditions of making homemade wine, sausage, pasta making and canning tomatoes. He also enjoyed watching boxing matches and keeping up with local and world news.

Sam had a generous and genuine heart. He cared deeply for those he loved. His well-known saying was “Watch What You Do” . He wanted all to be safe and happy. He was a jovial and spirited person who enjoyed being in the company of family and friends. He was a man of great integrity and an unsurpassed work ethic, and enjoyed learning, sharing wisdom and telling stories. He especially was fond of taking his kids and grandkids to Dairy Queen so he could also delight in an ice cream treat. He was a problem solver who employed creative and resourceful approaches. Over the years he eagerly devoted his time helping his children with their homes and household repairs and projects such as basement renovations, building a tree house, sand boxes, creches and pastry boards. He was a member of the Settefratese Social Club and a proud American but never forgot his Italian roots. He particularly recalled the many challenges in his earlier years while his family endured strife during and after World War II in Italy. As the oldest of his siblings, he helped to financially support his family at a young age. He was a man who lived well below his means and persevered and sacrificed to provide a better life for his children.

Sam is survived by his devoted wife of 70 years, Teresa (Casinelli), his loving children Anthony Gentile, Louis (Regina) Gentile, Loretta (Gregg) Marty and Diana (Vin) Lipinski.

He is also survived by his sisters, Antoinetta Casinelli, Phyllis Caporicci and Vincenza (David) Mitchell. His brothers in law, Leonardo (Silvana) Casinelli, Mario (Palma) Casinelli, and sisters in law, Anna Maria Gentile and Anna Tramontozzi as well as many nieces and nephews.

Known by his 12 grandchildren as Grandpa Sam, he adored and was a proud grandparent of Laura (Tommy), Meghan, TJ (Lindsay), Andrew (Taylor), Patrick, Jessica, Michelle, James, Matthew, Faith, Hope and Joseph. He was “Nonno” to his 9 great grandchildren, Thomas, Hailey, Lily, Avery, Bluebell, Anthony, Brooklyn, Rhys and Nicholas.

In addition to his parents Loreto and Loreta Gentile, he was predeceased by his brother Umberto Gentile, his brothers in law, Nicola Casinelli, Anthony Caporicci, Louis Vitti and Loreto Tramontozzi and sisters in law, Marie Casinelli, Gelsomina Casinelli and Antoinetta Vitti.

Family and friends will be received on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 4-8 pm at Lacerenza Macari Family Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 10 am at St. Maurice Church, 358 Glenbrook Road, Stamford. Entombment will immediately follow at St. John’s Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (https//:www.Stjude.org) or La Madonna di Canneto.

The family would especially like to thank the medical personnel : Dr. Angelo Mallozzi, Dr. Thomas Nero and APRN Courtney Pinto for their dedicated and tireless care. We also thank the Waveny Home Care aides Veronica, Dana, Marie and Jean. Also, special thanks to Patrick St. Paul for his care.

To leave an online condolence please visit www.Lacerenzafh.com