Samuel M. Esposito, 96, passed away peacefully at The Atria, Tinton Falls, on Monday, August 19th.

Sam was born and raised in Long Branch and graduated from Long Branch High School. He served with the U.S. Army Occupation Forces in Europe after WWII. He studied engineering and received his B.S. degree in Chemistry and Physics from Seton Hall University. Sam later went on to receive his M.B.A. in Management Science and Quantitative Analysis. He was employed at the U.S. Army Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, where he held a number of technical and managerial positions. These lead to his involvement in the development and launch of the TIROS-1 Satellite, which captured and sent the first televised weather photographs of the Earth to the Space Sentry Antenna at Fort Monmouth. He retired as the Director of Research and Development U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). Sam was a member of the West Long Branch Board of Adjustment, a past President of the West Long Branch Board of Education, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the First Atlantic Federal Credit Union.

Sam and his beloved wife, Alice, lived and raised their family in West Long Branch for 38 years, moving to Ocean Township in 1998. Golf was Sam’s passion and he was a longtime member of Sun Eagles Golf Club. He and his wife enjoyed cruising and traveling the world. He was a loving, devoted father and grandfather, who never missed an opportunity to show his support at sporting events and other activities. Sam was an avid Seton Hall basketball fan. He loved cooking for his family and was also a talented artist.

Sam was predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Alice Joline Esposito, his parents, Frank and Rose Esposito, his granddaughter, Jaclyn Rose Paskin, and his brother Frank Esposito. Surviving are his daughters, Barbara Paskin of Long Branch, Christine Ratty of Parkland, FL, his grandchildren, Ryan Paskin and his wife Carrie, Andrea Durando, Ian Ratty, and his great granddaughter, Sawyer Rose Paskin.

Visitation Thursday, August 22nd, 4pm – 8pm, at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch. Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, August 23rd, 12:15pm at St. Michael’s RC Church, Long Branch. Entombment will follow at Woodbine Mausoleum, Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, the family asks with gratitude, that donations be made to St. Michael’s Church, 800 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740 or Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), www.breakthrought1d.org.