Sam was born May, 22nd 1943 and grew up in Ridgefield Park, NJ. He joined the US Navy in Oct 1960. During his time in the Navy he served on the USS Fearless, the USS John S. McCain, and was deployed to the Naval Support Action in Danang during the Vietnam War where he ended his service in Oct 1967. Sam later moved to Texas in 1975 where he lived out the remainder of his life as a skilled machinist.

Sam is predeceased by his father and mother, Samuel Vincent Zinzi Sr and Mary T. Zinzi, his former wife, Madeline Placek-Zinzi and his beloved son, Michael Joseph Zinzi. He is survived by his former wife Deborah Pena, son, Samuel V Zinzi III, daughter, Melissa Zinzi and her husband Tony Hendrix, daughter-in-law Dyan Zinzi, grandchildren Dean Zinzi and Finley Hendrix, his brother Michael and wife Shelagh, and his sisters, Anita Zinzi, Maria Zinzi Nigro, Theresa Di Salvo and her husband Joe. He is also survived by nephews, Michael, Daniel and his wife Aprill, Brian and his wife Christi, and Brett.

Inurnment services will be held at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Friday May 12 at 2:00pm