Obituary of Samuel R. Tomatore

Samuel Robert Tomatore of Monroe passed away peacefully in Bridgeport, surrounded by his family, on May 26, 2025, at the age of 86.

Sam was born in Bridgeport on July 2, 1938, to Carmella (Millie) Petitte and Samuel Robert Tomatore, the second of four children. He grew up in Bridgeport and attended Fairfield Prep before embarking on a fifty-year career at First National Supermarkets in Stratford, where he worked his way up from grocery clerk to Store Manager. He was especially proud of the relationships he built with his customers, who often referred to it as "Sam's Store."

Sam was an avid sports fan who loved watching the Yankees, Jets, Notre Dame football, and UConn Basketball, especially "his girls." Above all, his greatest accomplishment and deepest love was his family, particularly his children.

Sam is survived by his son, Keith (Meredith) of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; his daughter, Karen, of Shelton; his sister, Anne DeGeralomo, of Monroe; and his brother, Russell (Aida Marquez), of Trumbull. He also leaves behind his former wife, Barbara (Baldini), his niece, Erika Tomatore, and many beloved cousins.

He was predeceased by his brother Francis (Elaine) of Santa Barbara, California; his brother-in-law Frederick DeGeralomo; and his parents.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers who assisted Sam over the years, especially the nurses at Bridgeport Hospital who attended to Sam with such care during his final days.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Jude Church, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. Entombment will follow in the St. Catherine Mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may greet the family on Friday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 500 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 at www.stjude.org or to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, PO Box 9057, Bridgeport, CT 06607-9057 at www.bridgeportrescuemission.org. To leave an online condolence please visit www.abriola.com.