of Warwick (formerly of Inverness, FL and Monroe, NY), passed away on August 18, 2008 at The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood. He was 80 years old.
Born on October 6, 1927 in Queens, NY, he was the son of James A. Sambets and Mary O’Rourke Sambets.
He was married to Florence (Barry) Sambets.
James is survived by his wife of 58 years, Florence of Warwick; two daughters: Dorothy Gessman and her husband Albert of Warwick, and Susan Hatton and her husband Lawrence of Inverness, FL; four sons: Gerard Sambets and his wife Marge of Dunedin, FL, James Sambets and his fiancé Evelyn Leong of Rockaway, NJ, Peter Sambets and his wife Karen of Nanuet, NY, and Frank Sambets and his wife Theresa of Chester, NY; thirteen grandchildren: David, Amanda, Megan, Justin, Gerard, Jr., Lori, Michelle, James III, Jennifer, Karly, Eric, Chelsea and Christian; seven great-grandchildren: Maryann, Christopher, Adriana, Ryan, Chase, Evey, and Jorja; two sisters: Catherine Kulikowski of Fort Pierce, FL and Theresa Osborn of Frankfort, KY. A sister, Helen Banta, is predeceased.
He was a graduate of Cardinal Hayes H.S., Bronx, and graduated from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY in 1982 cum laude, earning a BS degree. He served with the US Army during World War II. He was a Bus Driver with the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority and was an Internal Auditor with the IRS, New YOrk City. Additionally, he was a Parts Manager for Tom Sullivan & Bob Havell in Monroe, was a Courier for Brannen Banks in Inverness, FL, was a former troop leader with the Boy Scouts in the Hudson/Delaware Council #316, and was an avid METS fan. A former member of St. Anastasia’s Parish before moving to Florida in 1990, Jim was a Eucharistic Minister and taught Confirmation classes for the CCD program there, and was on the Parish Council. He was a member of and Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Inverness, FL. Most recently, Mr. Sambets was a parishioner of St. Stephens RC Church, where he served as an usher and was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, and made delicious Funnel Cakes!!
Visitation will be on Thursday, August 21, from 2-4 & 7-9 pm at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick. Funeral Mass will be at 10am on Friday, August 22, at St. Stephens RC Church. Interment will follow in Orange County Veterans Cemetery, Goshen.