Sam Joseph Belintende, 90, of Leonardtown, MD, died on Thursday, March 11, 2004 at St. Mary’s Nursing Center in Leonardtown, MD.

Born on March 21, 1913 in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late Joseph and Frances Nicastro Belintende who immigrated from Italy in 1905. Sam attended Eastern High School from 1928 to 1932. He played football there and on various other teams in the D.C. area. He was a member of the N.E. Boys Club.

Sam was an Apprentice Machinist at the Washington Navy Yard in 1936. In 1943 he was transferred to Tampa, FL as an Ordnance Inspector, specializing in the installation of 5”and .38 caliber guns on new U.S. Naval ships being built in Tampa. After returning to Washington, he worked at the U.S. Research Laboratory for a brief time and then transferred to the U.S. Naval Observatory as an instrument maker until his retirement as a Supervisor in 1968.

Sam is survived by his sister, Mrs. Carmilla Wehausen of Capital Heights, MD and several nieces and nephews. His nephew, Mr. George Carroll shared his home with him at Piney Point, MD and at the present address in Leonardtown, MD.

Family and friends will be received on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bushwood, MD. The Reverend Francis J. Early will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens in Leonardtown, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mechanicsville Lions Club, P.O. Box 705, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.