Sebastian (Sam) Fasano |
| Posted 2016-10-05 by Sharla |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Sebastian ‘Sam’ Fasano On Sept. 17, 2016, Sebastian “Sam” Fasano entered heaven. After all, he had made his reservation on Nov. 13, 1975, when he gave his life to Christ. During this last year, he spoke more and more about his reservation with peace and a matter-of-fact expectancy, knowing that soon his suffering would be over for eternity. Sam passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends. Sam was born Dec. 20, 1929, in Brooklyn, N.Y. As a boy he would ride his bike along the shore to Coney Island, and spent his days with cousins and friends in his Italian neighborhood. He was very involved in St. Gabriel’s Church as an altar boy, and performed in the many plays and musicals put on by the neighborhood priest, Fr. Cavanaugh. Sam’s family moved to Marlboro, N.Y., when he was a teen, and he served in the U.S. Marine Corp. After his discharge he met and married Janice Sparhawk, the love of his life. On Aug. 6 of this year they celebrated 61 years of marriage. The couple had two children, Patti and Sam III. The family moved to Phoenix in 1960. Sam eventually went into real estate and then insurance. For a short time, he and Janice ran a successful coffee shop at 444 W. Camelback Rd., where they served Janice’s homemade meatballs and other popular dishes. With great senses of humor, Sam and Janice’s banter always had customers laughing. A customer once told him he should require a cover charge for the entertainment. Sam was always a hard worker, and decided he didn’t want to retire until his early 80s. He attracted friends easily, and most were at least half his age. It was not unusual for him to bring home young couples for dinner at any given night. Sam and Janice joined Desert Breeze Community Church six years ago and through a home group, became close friends with fellow members they came to love. A lifelong harmonica player, Sam would accompany the guitarist in the group during worship, something everyone enjoyed. Sam’s talent for playing the harmonica led to many gigs at popular eateries and venues, such as Dillon’s and the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, where he played pop, rock and the blues with the Raun Alossi Band. What gave Sam the greatest musical enjoyment was playing with his son, Sam, an accomplished guitarist. They brought joy to family, friends and one another when they got together, which occurred frequently this year. Sam moved to Wickenburg December 2015 with his wife Janice. He enjoyed a rich life, full of family, friends, music and good food. It is such a loss to not have him here anymore, but so comforting to know how happy he is now, how pain free and excited to be with his savior, who he loved with all his heart. Sam is predeceased by his father Sam, his mother Teresa and brothers Joseph and Pat. He leaves behind his wife Janice; sister Fillamena Castagna; brother-in-law Ed Sparhawk; sister-in-law Jane Tate; daughter Patti (Steve) Slattery; son Sam (Michelle) Fasano; granddaughters Janice (Aaron) Wolfe, Leah (Amanda) Queen, Kara (Peter) Clay and Adria (Nash) Oliver; great-grandchildren Nathaniel, Ethan, Kathryn, Grayson, Elias, Landon, Jacob, Beaumont, Noah, Luke and Levi; niece Carol DeRose, nephews Michael, Paul and Peter DeRose; cousin Bill (Mickey) Pugelli; the Castagna family, the Spinelli family; the Scuilla family; the Minadeo family and many more cousins, nieces, nephews and friends; also his beloved little dog Reggie. A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 at Desert Breeze Community Church, 17600 N. Black Canyon Hwy, Ste. 101, Phoenix, 85053. |
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