Salvatore "Sam" Vinci, 90, of East Hartford, passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2017. He was born in Manchester, CT on December 8, 1926 to the late Joseph and Anna (Castro) Vinci. He was also predeceased by his brother, Gregory Vinci. Sam graduated from Manchester High School in 1945. He was employed as payroll supervisor at The Merrow Machine Company. Sam served in the Army in both the U.S. and Germany as a Corporal in the 43rd Infantry Division Band playing cornet and trumpet. He was a gold card member of the Army & Navy Club in Manchester and was also a founding member of the East Hartford South End Senior Center Band (now called Sentimental Swing). Sam enjoyed playing popular music and ballroom dancing. He followed basketball, especially the Boston Celtics. Sam is survived by his former wife, Lois Vinci of Glastonbury; his children, Donald Vinci and his wife Marianne of Manchester, Scott Vinci and Rainelda Ayala of Tolland, and Dale (Vinci) Baker and her husband Carl of Glastonbury; his granddaughters, Marie (Vinci) Semino and her husband Carl of Cromwell, Dawn (Vinci) Styga and her husband Brian of Torrington, Valerie Baker of Maine, Danielle Baker of California, and Melinda Baker of Glastonbury; five great-grandchildren, Aiden and Kayla Semino, and Joshua, Zachary, and Christopher Styga; as well as an uncle, Joseph Castro, and many loving nieces and nephews. He also had a very special friend, Joyce Burba, of Manchester. Calling hours will be on Saturday, April 29, from 8 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at John F. Tierney Funeral Home at 219 West Center Street in Manchester. A Mass will follow at 11 A.M. at St. James Church at 896 Main Street in Manchester with a burial ceremony at Holy Cross Cemetery at 1318 Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in Salvatore's memory may be made to either The Army & Navy Club Building Fund, at 1090 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040 or to the East Hartford South End Senior Center Recreation Fund at 10 Canterbury Street, East Hartford, CT 06118. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.