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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="BYLINE"
style="font-style: italic;"></span><big>Sam Giammalvo</big></b><br>
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<h1 class="articleHead" align="center">Family, friends and business
associates remember 'honest Sam' Giammalvo</h1>
<div class="bylineText" align="center"><i><span class="by">By</span>
Matt Camara</i><br>
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<p class="articleGraf"> Everyone knew "Honest Sam" Giammalvo.</p>
<p class="articleGraf"><i>"Every dealer who has called me ... everyone
said, </i><i>'Mark, that's the end of an era,'</i> said Mark Giammalvo,
45, the youngest of Giammalvo's four sons who worked for years in his father's
iconic Purchase Street dealership until he became a police officer. Salvatore
J. "Sam" Giammalvo, 83, the New Bedford businessman known around the city
as <i>"the one you know, the one you trust,"</i> died Saturday at
St. Luke's Hospital after an illness.</p>
<p class="articleGraf"><i>"Way back when the used car business was
very competitive, he got that reputation amongst the customers. And they
never forgot him," </i>said Peter Giammalvo, 90, Sam's older brother.</p>
<p class="articleGraf">A Korean War veteran and the son of Giammalvo's
Market founder Salvator J. Giammalvo Sr., Sam Giammalvo worked for a number
of city car dealerships before he shipped off to Asia while serving in
the Marine Corps. After returning from service — and marrying Jean Giammalvo,
who would be his wife for the next 59 years — he opened Sam Giammalvo's
Auto Sales in 1963. There he worked seven days a week without a vacation
up until a few months before he died, Mark Giammalvo said. The dealership
became known as the place for quality, high-end used cars. Giammalvo only
brought cars to the dealership that had original tires, paint and had not
been used as rentals, Mark Giammalvo said.</p>
<p class="articleGraf">Friends, family and acquaintances remembered
Giammalvo's inexhaustible energy, his willingness to do business with a
handshake and how much he cared for the people who walked through the doors
of his dealership. They also remembered his love of Italian food and how
he kept an index card for every used car on his lot. <i>"He not only sold
the cars, he sold himself,"</i> said Deb Brodeur, a media consultant with
SouthCoast Media Group — owner of The Standard-Times — who handled Giammalvo's
account with the newspaper. <i>"The index cards were something else." </i>The
dealership will stay in the family for now, Mark Giammalvo said, although
running it without their father will be a challenge. <i>"We do miss our
dad whole-heartedly,"</i> he said.<i> "We could never fill those shoes."</i></p>
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<p class="articleGraf">NEW BEDFORD — Salvatore J. "Sam" Giammalvo,
83, of New Bedford, the President of Sam Giammalvo's Auto Sales, Inc.,
a well-known area automobile dealership, passed away Saturday, May 25,
2013, at St. Luke's Hospital, surrounded by his family.</p>
<p class="articleGraf">Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Salvatore
J. and Luigia (Costa) Giammalvo, he lived in New Bedford all of his life.
After attending New Bedford Vocational School to study automotive mechanics,
Sam's first job was a repairman at the old Loughlin Chevrolet in the city.
In time, he would move on to work for several other garages. His passion
for cars however would come to a brief interruption when he did a two-year
tour in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. Upon his return, Sam
married his longtime girlfriend, Jean, who has been his companion for nearly
the past 59 years.</p>
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<p class="articleGraf">In the early 1950s Sam decided to try his hand
at selling cars and worked for several dealers on Purchase St., the same
street that his father set up a fruit stand on, many years earlier, which
later became Giammalvo's Market. Thinking back on his roots several years
ago, Sam was quoted as saying: <i><b>"Back then the assumption was that
used-car salesmen were thieves, but it was just the nature of the business.
So I took the same moral fiber that my dad had instilled in us and applied
it to selling cars."</b></i></p>
<p class="articleGraf">Then in 1963, Sam fulfilled his dream of owning
his own car lot, purchasing and setting up in a small three stall garage,
that building also being on Purchase Street. By 1971 the business was growing
beyond the size of that small facility and Sam bought and razed two tenement
houses adjoining that lot. On that now larger parcel, Sam built a 5,000
sq. ft. sales and service center. At this time, Sam also took on the General
Tire Franchise, adding another dimension of service for his customers.
In 1975, again needing to expand, Sam purchased the former Dale's Restaurant
which was just across the street. As time went on, Sam's three sons would
also work in the family business helping to contribute to its great success
over the years. As Sam's business continued to grow, and customers demanded
an even greater selection of his fine, hand picked automobiles, Sam purchased
a large parcel of land just south east of his main lot where an additional
two-garage section added to the existing building, as well as 2500 sq.
ft. of additional display area for vehicles. Sam was quoted many years
back as stating: <i><b>"I was determined to bring my customer the best used
car he could possibly get for his money, and back it up with my personal
assurance that, if the car did not make good, I would." </b></i>To that
end, we believe that Sam succeeded in his efforts of delivering on this
personal promise to his many loyal customers.</p>
<p class="articleGraf">He is survived by his loving wife, Jean M.
(Sylvia) Giammalvo; three sons, Steven and his wife Noreen of Oviedo, FL,
Glenn and his fiancée Kathy of Fairhaven, and Mark and his wife Theresa
of New Bedford; his siblings, Peter Giammalvo of Dartmouth, James Giammalvo,
Sadie Martin, and his twin Vita Carr, all of New Bedford; five grandchildren,
Jessica Hashim, Angelina Jay, Daniel, Andrew, and Jeffrey Giammalvo; and
several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Josephine Morra,
Joseph and Frank Giammalvo. A private Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday
morning at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Burial followed
in Sacred Heart Cemetery.</p>
<p class="articleGraf">The family asks that donations might be made
in his name, or the name of a loved one, to Holy Family-Holy Name School,
91 Summer St., New Bedford, MA 02740, or Community Nurse and Hospice Care,
P.O. Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719, or the MSA Coalition, (Multiple System
Atrophy) at <a href="http://www.shy-drager.org" target="_blank">www.shy-drager.org</a>.</p>
<p class="articleGraf">Arrangements were by the Saunders-Dwyer Home
for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please
visit <a href="http://www.saundersdwyer.com" target="_blank">www.saundersdwyer.com</a>.</p>
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