Salvatore "Sam" Joseph Marsala, Sr., 71, of Kansas City, MO, passed peacefully surrounded by his family on March 5, 2023.

Sam was born October 24, 1951, to the late Frank Marsalla and Barbara Poindexter (Marsalla) and was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, MO, having grown up in the Historic Northeast District. He was a proud graduate of St. Pius X High School and went on to graduate from The University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Sam was a devout Catholic and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was married for 39 years to Linda, and they had three children: Eric, Salvatore, Jr. and Josephine.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents; his nephews Frankie and Michael; and his beloved granddaughter Fiona. He is survived by his wife Linda; children Eric (Dana), Salvatore, Jr. and Josephine; grandchildren Gabriella, Sofia and Sienna; siblings Phyllis (Ciccio), Frank, Peter, Joe and Barbara (Green); and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Sam bravely fought a long battle with prostate cancer and always managed to maintain an admirable display of hope and strength. When Sam entered the room, people gravitated to his warm, kind, confident demeanor. You wanted to know him and when you met him, you didn't forget him. He always left an impact on people. His kindness, wisdom and wit will be missed by all who knew him.

The Rosary will be prayed at 4:00 p.m. followed by Visitation 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception [ LIVE STREAM ] [ Parking Lot Barcode ]. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Mausoleum, Kansas City North.

Pallbearers will be his sons Eric and Salvatore; and longtime friends Larry Damiano, Jack Ancona, Tucker Lampkin, Jack Pernice, Matt Player, Steve Lucito, David Hughes and John Serrone, Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers: Joe Caruso, Noel Blackman, Brian Gershon, Dave Simon, Mike Kauffman, Charlie Chandra, Anthony Rugnetta

The family offers heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Kansas City Hospice (Nurse Shannon); Hospice of Family Care Gentiva (Nurses Devinn and Donnetta); and all of the doctors who treated him throughout the years from the Oncology Unit at The University of Kansas Medical Center.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com