Samuel John Mancina

Samuel John Mancina, known to his friends as “Sam” or “Butch”, age 75, of Houston, PA, passed away on July 31, 2024, in UPMC Washington Hospital, with his loving family by his side. He was born in Washington, PA, the son of Salvatore and Donna Mancina. Sam was an Air Force veteran, serving during the Vietnam Conflict from 1968 to 1972. He met Pamela Taylor, the love of his life, who survives, when he was stationed at the Randoph Air Force Base in Texas. They married on November 6, 1971 at the Main Chapel at the base He was a graduate of Trinity High School. Sam retired as a steelworker at Washington Steel when it closed in 1999; he then went to school and was hired as a winding room helper at Pennsylvania Transformer, from which he retired in 2011. He had a multitude of interests and hobbies; traveling with his wife, reading, taking care of his yard and helping Pam with her flowers, being an “armchair” meteorologist, studying history and science, and sipping a good cup of coffee. All his life, Sam loved the snow; as a young man, he went rabbit hunting with his Dad, uncles and cousins. Sam's family was most important to him. He enjoyed celebrating holidays and having family cookouts, where he excelled at croquet. His family called him “our Trekkie”, as he enjoyed watching Star Trek and saying “Beam me up, Scottie” to cheer people up in frustrating moments. He especially loved being a Pap to his grandsons. Sam is also survived by his children Michael Mancina, PE, and Denise Mancina; grandsons Sylvester and Samuel Hubble; sister Joyce Paluda; sister-in-law Penny McDonald; brother-in-law Donald Taylor; niece Jennifer Paluda (Chuck Halvin); and nephews Brian Paluda and Matthew Mancina (Trisha). He is predeceased by his parents Salvatore and Donna Mancina; sister Peggy Mancina; brother-in-law George Paluda; father and mother-in-law, Bob and Alice Taylor; and nephew Zachary McDonald. Private visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 11, 2024. A public visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 11, 2024, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, August 12, 2024. Interment will follow in Washington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Veteran’s Place at 945 Washington Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15206 or the Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.