Samuel P. Scardina Jr. 1938-2023

He was born Aug. 12, 1938, in Youngstown, to Samuel P. and Rose Pietra Scardina. He was a 1956 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School. He attended Youngstown College briefly, but in 1957 began to work for the United States Post Office to support his family, when his parents became ill.

He was on active duty with the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963, where he achieved the rank of E4, but remained with the USPS until he retired in 2000, after 43 years as “Sam the Mailman.” After a short break, he began working as the courier for the Austintown Local School District for over 20 years.

He was an avid runner and ran the Boston Marathon three times in his life. He continued to run until he was 81 years old, and was active with the Youngstown Road Runners club. When he wasn’t running a race somewhere or working, he could be found at Austintown Panera, Falcon Stadium, watching Ohio State and Cleveland sports, or at his grandkids’ various sporting events.

He leaves his daughters, Suzanne (Mike) Rudisell of Louisville, Ky. and Samantha (Scott) Morgan of Berlin Center. He also leaves his grandchildren, Taylor and Sydney Rudisell, Robbie and Anna Tieche, and Luke Manchester; as well as his brother, Jim (Debbie) of Austintown; and sister, Rosemary Rigby of Canfield. He also leaves several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Guy; and his daughter, Nicole Scardina Tieche.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 6, 2023, at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church. Friends and family may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lane Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, and again from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church, prior to Mass.

In honor of Sam, the family asks you to wear your Ohio State Buckeyes attire to the funeral home.

Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest next to his daughter.

The family wishes to thank SouthernCare Hospice and Dr. Bhargava Ravi for their care at the end of Sam’s life, and Dr. Thomas Traikoff for his care over the last several decades.

Donations can be made to the ALS Foundation or to the mental health charity of your choice.

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