Settimio A Renzi

Settimio (Sam) Anthony Renzi passed away on June 14 in Loma Linda, California. He was loved and respected by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and by so many who knew and loved him. His legal name is Settimio, and he joked that he couldn't pronounce or spell it, so he chose "Sam" as his nickname.

Sam Renzi was born on October 6, 1923, in Leominster, Massachusetts, the 7th of 10 children. He attended South Lancaster Academy and was the President of his 1943 graduating class.

He was drafted to the Army in August of 1943 and served until 1945. Sam was a combat medic (conscientious objector) in WWII, in 3 battles, and 1 invasion in Southern France. Sam was rescuing five GIs who had stepped on mines when he himself then stepped on a mine; a piece of shrapnel penetrated his right heel and went out the ankle. He went to four different Army hospitals, and was told his leg would have to be amputated, but he begged the doctors NOT to amputate, and they finally agreed. He always said, "God was good to me for sparing my life AND my leg!"

Sam was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star (for heroic achievement) and received an honorable discharge before the end of the war.

While earning his bachelor's degree in Theology at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, Massachusetts, Sam met and married the love of his life, Ada Walters. They wed on June 16, 1946, and their marriage lasted nearly 67 years. He loved her, and he loved her Italian cooking!

He and Ada Renzi grew their family to include three children: Roy, Diane, and Claire. Tragically, their son Roy was killed in a bicycle versus automobile accident at the age of 21.

He was ordained to the Seventh-Day Adventist Gospel Ministry on July 2, 1955. As a teacher, he taught at two different academies, one in Massachusetts and one in Southern California. His career as a pastor included time as a Radio Evangelist in Bermuda, some administrative roles in the Northern New England SDA Conference from 1949-1963, and pastorships in several churches and in five Southern California SDA Churches. In total, 17 churches in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Bermuda, and California, and moved with his family 15 times.

After retirement, in 1999, Sam and Ada settled in Loma Linda, California. Sam was an active member of the Support Our Troops Committee, and his articles on veterans and present troops were published more than 250 times in local newspapers.

For hobbies, Sam enjoyed lapidary (collecting semi-precious and cutting and polishing them) and being an amateur photographer (with a real camera) in all the decades before people took pictures on their phones.

Anyone who knew Sam could see his dedication to Christianity, to the ministry, and to the Bible. They also knew his love for sports. He played baseball and softball in High School and College, after which, tennis was his game----a sport he played up until age 88. His dedication to fitness and exercise (he jogged for decades) was an everyday commitment and most likely contributed to his longevity. He was so proud of that longevity and in his last many years did not hesitate to ask a stranger to guess his age. People usually guessed several years younger than his actual age.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Ada Renzi (2012), by all nine of his brothers and sisters, and by his son, Roy Renzi.

Sam is survived by his 2 daughters and their families:

First Daughter: Diane Kiemeney, husband Gerard Kiemeney; Grandson Jared, wife Kaitlin; great-granchilden: Kinsley, Beckett, and Coen. Grandson Michael, wife Jen; great-grandchildren: Mason, Zoe, and Wyatt.

Second Daughter: Claire Renzi, husband Tim Tabke; Grandson Ryan Dowless, and great-granddaughter, Ruby Renzi.