Obituary: Samuel Serappa Sr.

**Portland firefighter and musician Samuel Serappa Sr. dies at 87** Portland, Maine – Samuel “Sam” Serappa Sr., a longtime resident of Portland and former deputy chief of the city’s fire department, died peacefully on September 17, 2026. The 87‑year‑old, born April 4, 1939, left behind a rich legacy of public service, music, and family. Serappa graduated from Portland High School in 1957 as a Brown Medal recipient. He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served until 1961. During his time in the Marines, he married his high‑school sweetheart, Ruth “Mickey” Winn, on July 18, 1959. The couple remained residents of Portland throughout their lives and raised three children together: Teresa, Kathleen, and Samuel Jr. After leaving the Marines, Serappa joined the Portland Fire Department. He began his career on Engine 1, steadily climbing the ranks over the next two decades. In 1978, he was appointed Deputy Fire Chief at Bramhall Station, a position he held until his retirement in 1982 after 20 years of service to the community. In his later years, Serappa and his wife spent their winter months in Estero, Florida, a tradition they started in 2001. The retired firefighter was an avid guitarist and singer, often entertaining friends and neighbors around campfires. He also volunteered at the Life Center in Estero, where he played music for residents in his spare time. Fishing and boating with family and friends were other passions that kept him active well into his senior years. Serappa was predeceased by his wife Ruth “Mickey,” his parents Angelina Walker and Nicholas Serappa, his stepfather Keith Walker, his uncle Michael DiCandia, and his sister Marie Cate. He is survived by his children, Teresa, Kathleen (married to Greg Sandora), and Samuel Jr. (married to Theresa), eight grandchildren—Hillary, Francis, Sean, Emily Bachelder, Casie Dalia, Canon Sandora, Livia, and Nicholas—and ten great‑grandchildren: Abigail, Jacoby, Bronson, Francis, Danielle, Giana, X’xavier, Maddie, Lyla, and Caleb. His loyal companion, a dog named Charlie, was with him until the end. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Church, 72 Federal St., Portland. The interment will follow at New Calvary Cemetery in South Portland, where he will receive U.S. Marine Corps honors. Memorials and condolences may be sent through the Poitras Funeral Homes website at . In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, or to the Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation, both of which were causes close to Serappa’s heart.