Sam P. Fanelli |
| Posted 2009-08-24 by Pat Wilson |
| Sam P. Fanelli, 64, of Fountain Hills, known in Fountain Hills as “Sam the Bug Man,” died Friday, Aug. 17, 2007 at Select Health Care Center in Phoenix after a year of battling heart-related issues. Born April 24, 1943 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Sam lived with his loving Italian parents and sisters. Sports started at an early age for Sam. He excelled in football and wrestling as he attended Hempfield High School. As a senior in 1961, Sam was offered a full football scholarship to Arizona State University under the great coaching of Frank Kush. As Sam made his mark in the Valley of the Sun, he set precedence by being one of the last lineman to play both offensive and defensive tackle. In 1985 Sam felt a drawing to return to the Valley of the Sun and shortly thereafter meeting his lovely wife, Claudia Dee Ezell. Dee and Sam opened a small pest control business and called it Sam the Bug Man. They have built their business on the foundations of God and family. Kris and Tony Fanelli, Sam’s twin sons, joined the Sam the Bug Man team in 1999. This mighty bug business has serviced Fountain Hills for 15 years. Sam’s sons will carry on Sam the Bug Man Pest Control as they service more than 1,000 homes in Fountain Hills and surrounding communities. Sam is survived by his wife of 20 years, Claudia Dee Fanelli; his sisters, Linda Farrell of Youngwood, Pa., and Lucille Raths of Mission Viejo, Calif.; his sons Kris and Tony Fanelli, Clay and Ty Warren; his daughters, Dana Dunlap, Roseanna Fanelli and Kristin Warren. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, Salvatore Edward Fanelli and Elsa Chesira Toffolli Fanelli and grandson Taylor Robert. In lieu of flowers, Sam’s family is requesting any donations be made to The Arizona Reservation Ministries, c/o Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills, Ariz. A memorial service was held in honor of Sam on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, at Christ’s Church, 15555 Bainbridge Ave., Fountain Hills. Published August 22, 2007, in the Fountain Hills Times. |
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