Samuel J. DeFeo Jr. Was Veteran of World War II

Samuel Jerome DeFeo Jr. died on Sept. 8, 2002 after a prolonged illness. Sam was born in Cambridge on May 16, 1926, the son of the late Samuel and Mary DeFeo. He was predeceased by his brother, Michael J. DeFeo.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946. Upon his discharge, he studied at Worcester State College under the GI Bill and earned a teaching degree.

He began his career teaching biology and earth science in North Reading and Wakefield. He was awarded four National Science Scholarships during this time. In 1962, he moved his young family to the Vineyard and spent close to 20 years at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. Summertime employment included working for the Co-op Dairy and the old Harborside Liquor Store on Main street, Edgartown.

After retiring from teaching in 1981, he moved to Buzzards Bay where he worked for a short while as a security guard. He could also be found at the A-Frame liquor store in Buzzards Bay, where many a Vineyarder would bump into him on the way to the boat. He was a staunch member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Buzzards Bay Lodge #3741 and the Fraternal Order of Elks, Wareham Lodge #1548.

He is survived by his children, Gary Holbrook DeFeo of Framingham, Mark and Melinda DeFeo of Edgartown, June C. DeFeo of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Matthew and Jeanne DeFeo of Severna Park, Md., and their four children.