Samuel Domenick, 94, a World War II U.S. Navy Veteran, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2020.  He grew up in the North Ward of Newark, the youngest of 4 to Italian immigrant parents. He was always very proud of his humble upbringing and his Italian heritage. Sam was a graduate of Central High where he played football and ran track.

Sam joined the U.S. Navy in October 1943, and shipped out to North Africa on the Amphibious  Ground Communication Ship, the USS Catoctin in March 1944. He was a Gunner's assistant and a combat medic aboard ship. He spent much of his active duty in North Africa, Italy and France. On D-Day, he was part of the 6 ^th wave to come ashore on Normandy Beach. He was most proud of the ship's role in the Invasion of Southern France in August 1945. The ship was the flagship of that battle with the Secretary of Defense on board. During that battle, his ship was hit and Sam injured his knee. Thirty shipmates lost their lives that day, something he spoke about often.

Upon his return from the war, he met the love of his life, Honey (Kopf) in Asbury Park, New Jersey. They married in October 1949 and moved to Indiana where Sam graduated from Tri-State University as a Mechanical Engineer. They lived in Jersey City, New Jersey until moving to Fords in July 1962, to raise their family.  Sam became involved in the Fords Clara Barton Boys Baseball League immediately, coaching his two sons' teams and was a founding member of the Executive Committee of the league.

He worked for IBM, General Cable and Catalin, before retiring from American Cyanamid in 1983. At that time, he decided to create his Chapter 2 and started his own limousine business that he ran for more than 20 years. This capitalized on his love of driving, his ability to talk with anyone about any subject and his desire to be his own boss. He had a drive and a work ethic that he passed along to his children.

Sam and Honey had a long and wonderful marriage. They taught their children that the marriage and loyalty to each other was paramount to an enduring life together. They were both very proud of their 3 children, children's spouses (who were daughters to them), all of their grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved when the family was all together. They instilled that in their family, that no matter what we are family. They lived, traveled and were best friends with Honey's sister Kit and her husband Tony Trope. The four of them traveled together and spent many a day and night in Atlantic City or Las Vegas enjoying their lives together.

Sam was an avid Yankees fan, telling stories of meeting Yogi Berra during WWII. He was a lover of horse racing, Roulette, the NY Giants and spent many years as a fan of the Pro Bowlers tour and a bowler himself.  He was a sucker for any war film, especially if it was about WWII.

He was pre-deceased by his wife of almost 70 years, Honey,  his son Steven, his parents Ralph and Angelina DeDomenico, his brothers Anthony and Tom, his sister Mae and his brother-in-law Tony. He is survived by his son Jeffrey and Michele of Wall Township, daughter Suzy of Freehold, daughter-in-law Elizabeth of Aberdeen, grandchildren, Jeffrey and Jaymi, Karli, Kristina, Jennifer, Stephanie, Bryan and Stephanie and Samantha, and his great-grandchildren, Sadie, Angelina, Sophia, Gianna, Alexander and Zachary. He is also survived by nieces, a nephew, great-nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and his sister-in-law Kit Trope.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 23 Ford Ave., Fords.