Sam L. Luizzi, 78; Carpenter, Ex-POW

Sam L. Luizzi, a bomber pilot and prisoner of war during World War II and a Ventura carpenter for more than 40 years, died Feb. 15 after a brief illness. He was 78.

Luizzi who was born Oct. 19, 1919, in Brockton, Mass., began flying B-17s for the U.S. military out of Great Britain in August 1943. He was shot down in 1944 and was held captive in a Nazi stalag, according to his family.

Months later, he was forced to participate in the infamous March on Berlin, in which prisoners of war from throughout Europe were herded to Germany as the Allies closed in, his family said.

Luizzi escaped in 1945, but soon was recaptured and was told by the camp commandant that he was going to be executed the following day, his family said. But before his execution could take place, the Nazis fled as British army units liberated the camp.

Luizzi received numerous decorations for his military service, his family said. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the 398th Bomb Group Assn.

After the war, Luizzi married his longtime sweetheart, Irene Ferrini, who was an Army nurse. The couple moved to Ventura.

For 44 years, Luizzi was a member of Local 2463 of the carpenters union, rising to become the organization’s secretary-treasurer before retiring in 1983. He also was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura.

He is survived by his wife, Irene, of Ventura, five nephews and four nieces.

Friends may pay their respects Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, in Ventura.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 3175 Telegraph Road. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.