Sam Henry Amato, 92, of Oak Park, died on Sept. 13, 2010 at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Born on Aug. 4, 1918 in Berwyn, he served in the U.S. Army from 1941-45, participating in major battles, such as Guadalcanal, and earning four Bronze Stars.
In 1951, he married Mary Catherine Murphy, and they moved in 1960 to Oak Park, where they raised their three children. After a long and successful sales career at The Jewel Companies, he retired in 1983. He played softball in the Park District of Oak Park’s adult league until the age of 60, played tennis until the age of 75, and was also an avid golfer. He performed with the Thatcher Woods Barbershop Quartet until 1990 and loved cooking (especially Italian food), perfecting his own pasta and sausage recipes for his family and friends. He and his wife Mary were longtime members of the Telephone Company Pioneers, whose service projects have helped many organizations.
Sam Amato is survived by his wife, Mary; his children, Tom (Patti), Catherine and John; and his grandchildren, Amy and Kevin.
Funeral Mass was celebrated at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park on Sept. 17, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
