Dr. Samuel Vincent Pellegrino Sr.

Dr. Pellegrino was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on July 24, 1933, to Vincenzo Pellegrino and Concetta (Lena) Pellegrino. In his early years, he was raised in Patti, Sicily, along with his brother, Anthony, and sister, Anne. They returned to the United States when Samuel was four years of age, and he grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Reading Senior High School in 1951, Albright College, and The School of Dentistry of the Temple University. Dr. Pellegrino received his Doctor of Dentistry degree in 1958. After certification, he served an internship at the Philadelphia General Hospital from 1958-1959.

He served on active duty with the United States Navy from 1959 to 1961. On his return from the military, he enrolled in the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation, he served a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Philadelphia General Hospital from 1962 to 1964.

Dr. Pellegrino practiced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the Reading area from 1964 to 2005. He served on the active staff of three Reading hospitals: Community General, St. Joseph, and Reading Hospital. In 1968, he became Chief of Dentistry and Oral Surgery at Community General Hospital and shortly thereafter instituted an ADA-approved dental residency-training program that remained until the hospital’s closure. In addition, he also supported his community by serving on multiple boards, including Medical Affairs of Blue Shield and Delta Delta and as a member of Exchange Club of Berks County. He was also instrumental in bringing Big Brothers (now Big Brothers Big Sisters) to Berks County and served as president of that organization during its formative years.

Dr. Pellegrino was a loving family man. He married Jessica S. (Maurer) Pellegrino (1937-2020) on Valentine’s Day, 1959. They are survived by their four children - daughter Lee J. Pellegrino, son Dr. Samuel V. (Nicole) Pellegrino Jr., daughters Victoria L. (James) Stuccio, and Valerie A. (Carl) Aveni - and ten grandchildren - Lauren, Drew, Samuel, Nicolas, Alexis, Vincent, Isabella, Natalie, Lucy, and Eamon. Sam and Jessica moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida, in 2006.

Sam loved traveling with Jessica, was an avid reader, and enjoyed woodworking, carving, sculpture, writing, boating, and fishing. He will be deeply missed by his children and grandchildren.