Samuel Livieri

Samuel Livieri
Developer and Entrepreneur 

1932 - 2024

Samuel Livieri, 91, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2024, in Woodbridge, CT with his beloved wife Nancy T. Livieri and family by his side following complications from cancer. A first-generation Italian American, Sam, born Serafino, was the son of Raffaele Livieri and Albina Montesi and was raised in Allingtown, West Haven.

Sam started kindergarten not knowing English. Then, through his conscious determination, he became class President in High School for his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. A natural born leader, he was respected and liked by both teachers and his fellow classmates.

At West Haven High School in 1951, Sam met his lifelong love, Nancy Taylor, when they were each receiving high academic awards. Both scholar-athletes, she cheered for him on the football field where he excelled as a running back.  He graduated from the University of Connecticut, she from St. Raphael’s Nursing School, and they were married in 1957.

Married for 67 years, Sam and Nancy had four children of whom he is pre-deceased by Joseph (1958) and John (1960-1978). He is survived by Samuel Livieri Jr. (MaryJo Pojawis) and Sharon Livieri Bloomer Peterson (Howard). Sam is loved as “Papa” by his grandchildren—Cameron Taylor Bloomer, Catherine Shepard Bloomer (Luca Naponiello), and Samantha Alice Livieri.

He is also predeceased by his parents and his four siblings, Arthur Livieri, Ida Nicolleli, Mario Livieri, and John Livieri.

Throughout his life, he remained determined to learn, passionate about literature, and disciplined in athletics. Some of his favorite authors were Robert Frost, Churchill, and Lincoln; quotes from these and others lined the wall of his office. After a successful college football career, he played semi-pro football for the Waterbury Orbits at age 33. For recreation, he and Nancy played tennis and golf for many years and took up skiing with their three young children. He also cherished his many years of friendship with his lifelong friend James A. Nugent, who predeceased him, and whom Sam missed terribly in the past year.

Sam worked many jobs starting with shoveling snow, selling newspapers, hawking souvenirs at the Yale football games, picking peas, and washing dishes. His summer job as a carpenter was most impactful. After college, he began his primary career as a home developer and built over two thousand homes in West Haven and Naugatuck during his 67-year career. “Livieri-Built” became an endorsement of quality, value, and integrity. In addition, he founded Apple Oil Company in 1980, continuously operated by the family.

Throughout his entire career, an important sense of accomplishment came from his enjoyment of working for many years with his dedicated team of employees who were a second family to him. He continued to treat each person respectfully and with care and concern. Sam never retired thanks in part to these long-time employees: Arthur “Chip” Norton, foremen for 46 years, Jose Fernandes, lead and expert carpenter for 42 years, and Ken Vozzo, engineer for 40 years.

The family appreciates and acknowledges the compassionate coordinated care provided by all of Sam’s doctors, the Smilow Cancer Hospital, and the Yale New Haven Health at Home Hospice that softened Sam’s suffering in the last weeks of his life.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 22nd, from four to seven o’clock.  A Mass of Christian Burial be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30am, in Assumption Church of Woodbridge.  Attendees are kindly asked to meet directly at church. Entombment will follow in St. Lawrence Garden Mausoleum. 

In lieu of flowers, your prayers are welcome. Donations may be made in Sam’s memory to the John Livieri Memorial Fund (0650266; created in 1962 by Sam and Nancy in honor of his brother John) or the Livieri Physical Therapy Professorship (0130436; created in 1996 by Sam and Nancy) at the University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc.  Checks made payable to the UConn Foundation, Inc. can be mailed to The UConn Foundation, Inc., Attn: Gift & Pledge Management, 2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206, Storrs, CT  06269-3206.  The fund can be noted in the memo line of the check.  Donations may also be made online, https://www.foundation.uconn.edu/give-online/

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