Samuel J. Bianco

Samuel J. Bianco, 88, of Vandling, died Tuesday afternoon. His wife is Clara Golecki Bianco. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 10th.

Born February 17, 1922, in Vandling, he is the son of the late Louis and Angeline Ferraro Bianco. He was a graduate of Vandling High School and a member of the Roman Catholic Community of Forest City. He was an Army Veteran of WWII in the Tank Corp., and a recipient of the Purple Heart. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. He was also a member of Elkview County Club.

Sam was currently president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council (AFL-CIO) and the Alliance for Retired Americans District 3. He was presently serving as Chair of the Labor Participation Committee, Board Member, and Finance Committee for The United Way of Wyoming Valley; He was a present board member of United Rehabilitation Services and the Lackawanna County Board of Assistance. Sam was currently a co-chairman for the NEPA Area Labor Management Council and a committee member for PA AFL-CIO Community Services Committee.

Sam was a past Pennsylvania Delegate for the White House Conference on Aging, and he served previous board positions for the Lackawanna County River Basin & Sewer Authority; St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen; Wilkes University Continuing Education; Blue Cross of NEPA; American Red Cross Wyoming Valley Chapter; and the Forest City Regional School District. He was a past State Vice President for PA Alliance for retired Americans and a past district manager for the International Garment Workers Union of Pittston and Wilkes-Barre.

As president of the Greater W-B Labor council, the council under his leadership was the recipient of the 1990 "United Way of Wyoming Valley's Labor Award", in 1990 and 2000 "PA AFL-CIO Boyer-Uehlein Community Service Award", in 1998 the "National AFL-CIO Model City in Community Service Award", and the 2007 "United Way of America's Joseph A. Beirne Community Service Award."

Samuel was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Also surviving are a son: David and Janette Bianco, Pleasant Mount; two daughters: Barbara and Kevin Pasterchik, Binghamton; and Sandra and Richard Guman, Archbald; 4 grandchildren, Samuel and Felicia Bianco, and Sara and Stephen Pasterchik; two sisters, Christina Siciliano, Long Island, and Theresa Bendurski, Carbondale. Several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by 14 siblings and 2 grandchildren, Emily Rose and Mae Elizabeth Bianco.

Funeral will be Saturday from the Kevin M. Lesjack Funeral Home, 513 Main Street, Forest City, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am from St. Joseph's Church, 741 Delaware Street, Forest City. Friends are asked to go directly to the church. Interment in St. Agnes Cemetery, Forest City. Viewing Friday from 4:30-8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The United Way of Wyoming Valley, 8 West Market Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.

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