Samuel "Sam" Thomas Dannessa

Samuel Thomas Dannessa, 85, passed away peacefully at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, Ohio on October 8th, 2017. Born on June 11, 1932, he lived most of his life in Youngstown, and was the last child of Domenico and Maria (DeFelice) D'Annessa who had immigrated to Ohio from the Province of L'Aquila, Barrea, Italy. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Amil and Angelo and sister Sophie DeRose. He graduated from South High School in 1951 where he excelled at athletics and was an all-county football tackle. He also attended Youngstown University for several years. He served in the US Navy from 1951-1955 and was a veteran of the Korean conflict. He traveled around the world several times during his enlistment in the Navy aboard the destroyer USS James C. Owens (DD-776). He married his high school sweetheart Loretta (Clouser) Dannessa in 1954 with whom he grew up exploring Mill Creek Park and dancing together to music of the Big Band era. He is survived by his wife Loretta of 63 years and their children Robert Dannessa (Coleen and granddaughter Briana) of Youngstown and Karen Dannessa (Henry Grabb) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. His first job was as a pin-boy at a bowling alley at the age of 9 with his brother Angie and he also worked as a fruit vendor at Youngstown's Pyatt Street Market and as a golf caddy in high school. He was employed as a machinist at McKay Machine Company and as transportation supervisor for the Austintown School System and later in the same capacity for the Youngstown City School system. Always a big kid at heart and the life of any party, he enjoyed socializing as a member of the Austintown chapter of the Italian- American War Veterans (ITAM) for many years and the USS J.C. Owens Ship Association which hosted frequent reunions. He also participated in league bowling for many years, where he was known to occasionally bowl a perfect game and also in gymnastics in the Navy. Much to his children's delight, he once performed a running front handspring on his lawn to demonstrate his athleticism and saved a young girl from drowning on a family camping trip at a cold water creek near Clarion, Pennsylvania. He was an avid sports fan of professional and college football, following local high school teams as well. He religiously watched televised wrestling and also enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, gardening and camping. He is loved and will be missed. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lane Family Funeral Homes-Austintown Chapel where friends may call from 10-11 a.m., prior to the Service. Although flowers are beautiful, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Heart Association, 840 Southwestern Run Yo., OH 44514. Family and Friends may view this obituary and send condolences at www.lanefuneralhomes.com