Saturday, August 19, 2023
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My Tribute to Uncle Sammy
By his nephew Ricky LoBello
Samuel LoBello was the son of Italian immigrants. His father and my grandpa came to this country from Sicily in 1910. Charles LoBello crossed the Atlantic Ocean at age 17 and when he was in his 30’s he proudly served his country in the US Army in two World Wars. Sam’s mother and my grandma, Frances LoBello, was the most famous Italian cook in the family and for years everyone enjoyed her Italian bread, fig bars, homemade pasta, spaghetti sauce and more.
Uncle Sam grew up near the southern shores of Lake Erie in Western New York and spent most of his life living in the Village of Angola in the same house where his mother and father lived. He had one sister Geraldine and four brothers - Russell, Joesph, Thomas and Louie, my father.
Uncle Sammy was the last descendent of his immediate family when he went to be with God on August 2, 2023. He proudly served our country during the Korean War and was retired from the South Buffalo Railroad. When he left us, we lost not only a beloved Uncle, but the last Charles and Frances LoBello family member living in our family’s most important place to gather, for over 60 years.
Uncle Sammy was well known as a successful outdoorsman using bow, shotgun and muzzleloader. For years he organized hunts with his brothers, cousins and friends and because of his accomplished hunting skills, was affectionately known by his friends in places like Little Valley, as “the Legend.”
All of those who knew him will cherish Uncle Sam’s memory for the rest of our lives. Thanks for all the ice cream cones, birthday and Christmas gifts, tomatoes, cups of coffee, stories and jokes and your all of the love you gave us Uncle Sam, we will always love you and remember you.
