Samuel “Sam” Battista Obituary (1929 - 2018)

Mr. Samuel J. Battista died on March 13, 2018 at his home in East Hanover, NJ, surrounded by his loving family. Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home, (www.proutfuneralhome.com) 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona will be on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm. A Funeral Mass will be offered in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Verona, on Saturday, March 17 at 10 am. Born in Orange, NJ on March 16, 1929 Sam lived in Verona for 54 years prior to moving to East Hanover in 2015. He was a Printer for the Verona Cedar Grove Times for 40 years. Sam has been a loyal member of the Verona Lions Club since 1999, serving as President, on the Board of Directors, a Trustee on the NJ Lions District Charitable Foundation , as a Trustee and President of the Lions District 16E Charitable Foundation and received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, which is the highest award recognized by Lions Club International. His greatest passion was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great granddaughters. He is survived by his wife, Jeannie (nee Rettino) Battista, his children, James, Samuel (Natalie), Susan Gramcko (Walter) and Jeannie Liska (Gordon). He is also survived by his siblings, Mary Battista, Geri Gasparino, Thomas Battista, his grandchildren, Michael & Samantha Battista, Christopher & Kathryn Gramcko, Tara, Danielle & Renee Liska, Sam & Jenna Battista, Olivia & Alexis Battista and his two great granddaughters, Hailey & Sophia Battista. He was predeceased by his siblings, Anthony, Joseph, Jean Aquino and Ann LaStella. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital would be appreciated.