Salvatore Marvaso

Salvatore (Sam, Sal) Marvaso of Stevensville, MD, formerly of Wheaton, MD, died June 15, 2015, at Heartland House in Grasonville, MD. He was 86. Born on October 10, 1928, in Washington, DC, the son of the late Vincenzo and Genoveffa Vinci Marvaso, he grew up in Washington, where he attended Alice Deal Grammar/Jr. High and Wilson High schools. He did not graduate high school. Sam worked at a “filling station” (gas station) and drove a delivery truck for 7Up before starting a sales career with Hahn Shoes. Sam served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict, rising to the rank of Corporal. While serving in Salzburg, Austria, he met and married his wife, Theresa. They returned to Washington, DC, and eventually settled in Wheaton, MD, where they raised their children. Sam was able to return to his love of sales with Hahn’s. He truly loved the interaction with customers. He loved people, and usually had something funny to say. His sense of humor sometimes got him in to a little bit of trouble. He didn’t care. As long as he was able to make others feel comfortable, and give them a laugh, he was OK. He was able to create a very relaxed atmosphere, and had myriad repeat customers for many, many years. Even though he worked six, sometimes seven days a week, Sam always had time to “hang out” with this children. Whether it was just to sit down and join them in watching something on TV, or asking them if they wanted to ride to the store to pick up some milk, he genuinely wanted to be around them. Often on these trips for “milk,” Sam would buy the kids a candy bar or ice cream, always giving the instruction, “Don’t tell Mom.” These secret treats were a great source of joy for him and for his children. Back in the day, he loved cooking breakfast for the family on Sunday morning. This was the extent of his culinary expertise, except for his roasting chestnuts each Thanksgiving/Christmas season. He loved the ocean, even though he couldn’t swim. On the few ocean vacations he was able to provide for his family, he spent the entire day in the water body surfing with his kids, and literally talking to every person he could engage. He really was just a big kid himself! Sam rose to Assistant Manager, and served at the P. G. Plaza (MD), and at F Street (DC) stores. He missed the interaction with the customers, but one could often find him outside of the store greeting people, and bringing them in. He also enjoyed dressing the store windows. In the early seventies, Sam was given a store of his own at Montgomery Mall (MD). At the time, this was one of the highest volume stores in the company. He enjoyed many years there until he was given his last store before retirement at Colesville Rd. and Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring (MD). He loved to tell the story about a jewelry store robbery that occurred while he was working there. Cops and guns, etc. The story became more embellished with each telling. After retirement, Sam enjoyed leisure time around the Wheaton area. He worked out at the local senior center after having triple bypass surgery in the early nineties. He loved the senior center, and all the people at the various businesses around “town.” In 2005, he and Theresa traded in “city” life and moved to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. For almost 10 years, he and Theresa were able to enjoy a beautiful home, and the small town feel. He was very happy there, and often said how grateful he was. He was devoted to his grandchildren, and relished the opportunity to “serve” them. He acted in as many “positions’ as he could get his hands on in their lives from “line leader” in pre-school to chauffeur/secret snack provider through high school for a few of them. He would be available from elementary through high school and for practices whenever he could. He loved to be able to help his family with small repairs. One could bring the item to him, or he would come to them depending upon the job. He truly enjoyed being able to help in this capacity. He did excellent work, and had a keen ability to figure out how things worked, and how to fix them, sometimes coming up with off the wall ideas. This was truly one of his great joys. If you visited him at home, you would be given food and drink whether you wanted them or not. Salvatore is survived by his loving wife, Theresa Marvaso of Chester, MD; daughter, Genoveffa “Jenny” Marvaso of Walkersville, MD; son, Vincent “Butch” Marvaso of Chester, MD; daughter, Deborah “Debbie” Marvaso Connor (Harold) of Stevensville, MD; daughter, Carol Marvaso of Laurel, MD; and daughter Eva McQueen, of Wheaton, MD; and grandchildren: Sean, Theresa, Dain, James, Jack, and Peter Connor and John, Michelle, Renee, Brian and Adrienne. In addition to his parents, Salvatore was predeceased by his brother, Frank Marvaso. Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the hospice of your choice.

Salvatore Marvaso

October 10, 1928 - June 15, 2015