Obituary of Samuel Paladino

Samuel Paladino, 88, of 22 Pleasantview Dr. Jamestown, NY passed away peacefully on Friday (June, 1, 2012) in WCA Hospital in Jamestown, NY. He was born on March 12, 1924 in Jamestown, NY, 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. In 1942, he was drafted into the US Army during World War II and served honorably and heroically for 4 years as a Chief Signal Officer. He attained the rank of Sergeant and served with Merrill's Marauder's as they fought through the jungles of Burma and harsh terrain of India and China. WWII 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 2 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 1958-1960. 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 LTJ President on 2 different occasions, and was a board member for 36 years. As a Building Fund Chairman for LTJ, 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 over 60 acting roles with LTJ, do you remember his role as "Dracula"? Performing with the Junior Guilder's of LTJ, under the Direction of Helen Merrill, was extremely special to him. He also served as Master of Ceremony for many Barber Shoppers 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 1950,s, 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 it's 42nd year and has raised over $1,000,000 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, NY/Sarasota, Fl, Deborah (Samuel) Gullo of Jamestown, NY and Kandis(Stephen) Lombardo of Jamestown, NY. He is also survived by his loving wife of 12 years, Anita Marucci Paladino of Jamestown, NY and her two children Michela (Christopher)Marucci Tehan of Jamestown, NY and Anthony (Amanda)Marucci of Fort Lauderdale, Fl , a brother Lewis Paladino of Sarasota, FL, his grandchildren Adam Gullo of Jamestown, NY, Lauren Paladino of Los Angeles, California, Nichole Gullo Mason of Jamestown, NY and Ryan Paladino of Vienna, VA, Nicholas Lombardo of Jamestown, NY, Matthew Lombardo of Jamestown, NY, Leonardo and Vittoria Tehan of Jamestown, NY, also a great grandchild, Nico Mason of Jamestown, NY. 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 January 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 2-4pm and 7-9pm, Sunday (June 3, 2012) in Lind Funeral Home, located at 805 West 3rd St., in Jamestown, NY, where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 1:45 p.m. Sunday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday (June 4, 2012) in Holy Apostles Parish of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, located at 508 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY. 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 East 2nd St., Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Italian American Charity Golf Association(for cancer research, diagnosis and treatment) at POB 352, Jamestown, NY 14702-0352.