Sabino Tafuri

Sabino Tafuri, 96, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 18, 2024, after a brave battle with Dementia and a brief illness. Sabino was born in Atripalda, Italy on July 10, 1928, to Luigi and Anna Tafuri. He immigrated in October 1956 to Fitchburg to pursue his American Dream and was joined in May 1958 by his wife and three children.  Sabino was sponsored by and worked at Svea Bakery. He worked at various other bakeries in the area until opening Sabino’s Bakery & Pizzeria on Water St. in the heart of "The Patch" neighborhood in Fitchburg in 1961, featuring his first of several personally designed and built brick ovens. The popular family business was lost to a deadly building fire in 1977. He reopened Sabino’s Bakery & Pizzeria on Westminster St. in 1981. His famous Italian bread was enjoyed by patrons of Tre Sorelle Restaurant in Leominster.

Sabino had a love for good homemade food and wine. He lovingly shared the harvest from his gardens, grape vines, raspberry bushes, and many peach trees with any visitor to their family home. He grew his peach trees from a single peach pit he brought from Italy. He loved to share stories of his experiences, travels, wit and wisdom, and personal views of life's lessons. He was known for his jovial nature and unique sense of humor wherever he went. Sabino lived for his family and had a special way of making all his grandchildren feel seen and loved by him. He loved watching Italian soccer games and Boston Bruins games, playing “Scoba” card games, and playing poker with his grandsons. He especially loved basking in the warm sun and being outdoors in the summer months.

Sabino is survived by Fausta (Tina), his wife of more than 75 years, of Fitchburg, MA, and their five children; Anna Leone (Joseph) of Shrewsbury, Filomena Day of Old Orchard Beach, ME, Gina Tafuri of Bradenton, FL, Joanne Liberatore (Peter) of Leominster, and Vincent Tafuri (Lana) of Westminster.  Sabino also leaves ten grandchildren; Michael Gionet (Adesholla), Mark Gionet (Luciene), Margo Champion (Gregg), Lauren Tafuri, Matthew Tafuri, Jillian Maiorino (Brian), Rachel Nix, Cassandra Liberatore (Donny), Anthony Liberatore (Kylie), Peter Farnsworth (Noelle), his fourteen great grandchildren, Nicholas, Alaina, Zoe Belle, Everett, Dominic, Isabella, Giovanni, Ella, Charlie, Brooke, Nole, Van, Coralina, Cecilia and one great-great grandchild, Carmen Saulnier.  Sabino will be remembered fondly by his many relatives residing in Italy; his nieces and nephews, especially by his brother, Guglielmo Tafuri (Giovanna).

Sabino was predeceased by his son Salvatore (Sam) Tafuri, of Orlando, FL in 2015 who proudly served as a Marine in Vietnam. He was predeceased by his brothers Vincenzo, Victorio, and Antonio, and his sister Anna, all in Italy.

We wish to send a big thank you to the staff at Sterling Village Nursing Home in Sterling for their TLC of our Dad. He was one of their favorite residents.

Calling hours will be held Monday, October 28th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg, MA, followed by a service at 12:30 pm in the funeral home.  Burial will follow in St. Bernard Cemetery, Fitchburg. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity.