Santo Sapienza

Santo Sapienza was born on October 28, 1936, in Pedara, Catania, Sicily, Italy. He was the son of Carmelo and Carmela (Grasso) Sapienza. He was from a big family, with 8 brothers, including Sebastiano (wife Sebastiana), Antonino (wife Anna), Alfio (wife Angela), Salvatore (wife Angelina), Giuseppe (wife Giovanna), Domenico (wife Rosetta), Natale (wife Giuseppa), Benito (wife Agata). As you can imagine, he was Zio to many, many nieces and nephews.

He loved his family and missed them every day after taking the leap of faith across the ocean to Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1967. He was about 30 years old when he made the trip. He took English lessons and started to make his new life.

He and Sylvia (Paige) were married on December 1st, 1972 and started their life together in Lawrence, MA.

In 1978, they moved to Greenwood Road in Andover, Massachusetts, with their 5 children, Walter, Candis, Carmela, Gioia, and Carmelo. One of the first things he did in that home was to build a stone fireplace for the basement family living room.

He enjoyed his large garden and grew different types of greens, long Italian green beans, and many tomatoes, so that Sylvia could turn them into sauce.

They traveled back to Italy periodically to visit family and for many years he took some time off during his busy summers and would take the family on vacation to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where they would visit The Flume, Clark’s Trading Post, Santa’s Village and enjoy the beauty of New Hampshire.

He ran a successful masonry business out of his home in Andover, with Sylvia managing the books, and wor

He loved food and was an excellent cook. He would sometime get excited about good food and, if it was deserved, would describe it as deliziosa! Years ago, he was a member of the Son’s of Italy Club and enjoyed playing Italian card games, watching or listening to soccer games, watching and reading Westerns, and having spirited discussions with his friends. There are many people in and around the Merrimack Valley, as well as back in Sicily, that he called friend.

He retired to Florida in 2004 with Sylvia and Gioia. They settled in to a Florida life but he did miss his family, friends, and life in New England; even the snow, a little bit.

He leaves behind his loving family in Sicily and Sylvia, his wife of 53 years, Walter and wife Parris, Candis, Carmela and husband Brendan, Gioia, and Carmelo and girlfriend Carly, along with his grandchildren Audrey, Seth, Santino, Carmelo, and Lily, and his great grandchildren.

He was a very talented man with a big personality and a big heart. The loss of his presence will be deeply missed.

A memorial service to be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 11AM at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209.

Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements.