Salvatore "Sam" Tralongo

Salvatore “Sam” Tralongo, of Appleton, passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2015. Sam was born on September 8, 1922, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Salvatore and Carmella (DeStefano) Tralongo. After serving in the Coast Guard during WWII, Sam attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Layton School of Art. In 1950, he married Kathleen (Smiley) in Milwaukee and moved to the Fox Valley to teach in the Appleton Public School system. Sam taught art at several Appleton junior high schools for many years. He later taught special education at Appleton East where he also coached tennis and golf before retiring after 35 years. Sam enjoyed his retirement, and he was an avid golfer who loved to take his grandchildren to Reid Golf Course to chip and putt. Sam loved to tell jokes and stories, a gift to those who knew him. The world was a better place with Sam in it.

Sam is survived by his wife, Kathleen Tralongo; daughter, Gina (Dan) Helf and their children Corey (Abby), Kevin (Megan), and Robert (Abby Johnston) Helf; son, Thomas (Ginger) Tralongo and their children Mariah and Salvatore “Sam” Tralongo; daughter, Susan (Steve) Havey and their children Dana (Tyler) Holtzheimer and Cara Havey. He is further survived by his brother, Ben Tralongo; brother-in-law, Jim (Karen) Smiley; four great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. Sam was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Joan Marie Tralongo and sister, Rosaria “Sadie” Scalici.

Funeral services for Sam will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2015, at FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 325 E. Franklin Street, Appleton with Rev. David Farina officiating. A time of visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution will be made in Sam's memory.

Sam's family would like to thank the staffs at St. Elizabeth Hospital ICU and Cherry Meadows for all of their excellent care.