Samuel Paladino, 88, of 22 Pleasantview Drive, Jamestown, N.Y., passed away peacefully on Friday (June, 1, 2012), in WCA Hospital in Jamestown, N.Y.
He was born on March 12, 1924, in Jamestown, N.Y., the son of Achille and Concetta Maisto Paladino.
He was a graduate of Jamestown High School and later served as president of the JHS Alumni Association.
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Samuel Paladino
In 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II and served honorably and heroically for four years as a chief signal officer. He attained the rank of sergeant and served with Merrill's Marauders as they fought through the jungles of Burma and harsh terrain of India and China.
World War II interrupted his plans to go to Hollywood, where he hoped to begin an acting career with the help of Lucille Ball. The war stifled his drive to move to Hollywood, but he always said, "I guess I didn't feel like leaving home again. I have no regrets having had the best of two worlds - Jamestown Little Theater involvement, owning a business and raising a family."
In November 1947, he opened his first beauty shop called Dorian's, which is still operated today by his daughters: Deborah Gullo and Kandis Lombardo, where he continued to serve clients until January 2012.
He was a man who loved to serve his community and he did so in so many capacities, that one may wonder - when did he work for a living? He was a past director and writer for the Miss Jamestown Pageants from 1958 to 1960. He has been an active member in the Little Theater of Jamestown since 1953, an affiliation he was always the most proud of. He served as Little Theater of Jamestown president on two different occasions and was a board member for 36 years.
As a building fund chair-man for Little Theater of Jamestown, he helped raise over $180,000 for the renovation of the present Lucille Ball Little Theater building. He was probably most well-known throughout the area for his more than 60 acting roles with Little Theater of Jamestown, do you remember his role as "Dracula?" Performing with the Junior Guilders of Little Theater of Jamestown, under the direction of Helen Merrill, was extremely special to him. He also served as master of ceremonies for many barbershoppers singing programs. He served as past chairman of the Chautauqua Lake Fund Drive, president and treasurer of the Jamestown Cosmetologists Association and board member for 15 years. He served as past president of Jamestown Jaycees and Regional VP of NYS Jaycees. He was instrumental in starting the Jamestown Midget League Football League in 1958. He was a former Cancer Society board member and board member of the Downtown Jamestown Business Association. He served as past district chairman of Rotary District Conferences for Western New York. He served as chairman of Jamestown Rotary Travelogue programs and was master of ceremony on many occasions. He was past president of the American Heart Association of Jamestown and served as a board member and president of the Jamestown Easter Seals Society. In the 1950s, he and his wife Doris opened up his home and swimming pool to physically challenged individuals under the guidance of the Easter Seal Society staff. He also served on numerous committees for the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce.
He loved to play golf and served a past chairman of his favorite charity golf tournament, the Italian-American Charity Golf Tournament, which is in its 42nd year, and has raised over $1 million for cancer research, diagnosis, treatment and care. He was an active player until 2011.
He was a member of AM-VETS, American Legion, VFW, Jamestown Rotary, Elks and Moose Clubs and the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club.
He is survived by his children: Raymond (Rosemary) Paladino of Allegany, N.Y., and Sarasota, Fla., Deborah (Samuel) Gullo of Jamestown, N.Y., and Kandis (Stephen) Lombardo of Jamestown, N.Y. He is also survived by his loving wife of 12 years, Anita Marucci Paladino of Jamestown, N.Y., and her two children Michela (Christopher) Marucci Tehan of Jamestown, N.Y., and Anthony (Amanda) Marucci of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; a brother, Lewis Paladino of Sarasota, Fla.; his grandchildren: Adam Gullo of Jamestown, N.Y., Lauren Paladino of Los Angeles, Calif., Nichole Gullo Mason of Jamestown, N.Y., Ryan Paladino of Vienna, Va., Nicholas Lombardo of Jamestown, N.Y., Matthew Lombardo of Jamestown, N.Y., and Leonardo and Vittoria Tehan of Jamestown, N.Y.; and a great-grandchild, Nico Mason of Jamestown, N.Y.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Doris Mae Bruno Paladino, mother of his three children, who died Jan. 22, 1997; his brothers: John Paladino, Frank Paladino, Nicholas Paladino, Steven Paladino and Raymond Paladino; and a sister Celeste Palmisano.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday (June 3, 2012) in Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 1:45 p.m. Sunday.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday (June 4, 2012), in Holy Apostles Parish of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende, pastor, will be celebrant. Entombment will be in the Lake View Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Lucille Ball Little Theater of Jamestown Inc., 18 E. Second St., Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Italian-American Charity Golf Association (for cancer research, diagnosis and treatment) at P.O. Box 352, Jamestown, NY 14702-0352.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Sam at www.lindfuneralhome.com.
