Sam DiGiallonardo

Sam DiGiallonardo of Pleasanton died Feb. 22. He was 81.

DiGiallonardo was born on Jan. 26, 1934. He was raised in Frederick, Colorado, near Denver, and started his career at Dow Chemical, in Rocky Flats, Colorado in 1952.

In 1962, he moved to Livermore and worked in metallurgy sciences at Lawrence Livermore for more than 30 years. He received numerous metal society awards as a team member, participated in technical societies and committees and coauthored multiple research publications. He started a successful small business, Metallographic Lab Service, in the 1970s, providing metallurgic research and failure analysis for clients for over 20 years.

DiGiallonardo enjoyed playing poker, photography, following local sports teams and fishing but most of all spending time with his children and grandchildren. He lit up when his grandchildren entered the room and was a beloved grandpa to all of them.

He is survived by his children Luann Spindler (Frank), Joe, Sam (Leny) and Tom (Fabricia) and grandchildren Daniel, Andrea and Jessica Spindler, Joseph, Aloura and Zachary DiGiallonardo, Hiro Tayawa, Hideyuki and Hitomi Osumi, Heidi Spalding and Sarah and Thomas DiGiallonardo.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Chapel, 4001 Stoneridge Dr., Pleasanton, followed by a reception at Vineyard Estates clubhouse, 3263 Vineyard Ave., Pleasanton. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Relief Services or Shepherd's Gate in Livermore.