Samuel J. Talarico, 91, of Fort Wayne, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was born on December 28, 1929 in Ossian, Indiana to George and Rose Talarico, immigrants from Maida, Catanzaro, Italy. He attended St. Patrick’s elementary school and was a very proud member of the Central Catholic High School class of 1948 - a class that included his future wife and so many of his lifelong friends. He was a graduate of Indiana University where he wore 77 for the Hoosiers as a defensive tackle from 1948 through 1952. Following graduation he served in the United States Army and was stationed in South Korea until 1955. He returned to Fort Wayne and began a forty-three year teaching career at St. Jude Catholic Grade School where he taught third grade and coached numerous basketball and football teams. He also served for thirty years in the Wildcat Baseball League, first as the site director at Lakeside Middle School and later as a member of the league’s board of directors. He held coaching positions at Bishop Dwenger high school including freshman football coach and he was the school’s first varsity baseball coach. He is a member of the Bishop Dwenger Hall of Fame. In 1971 he was elected to the Common Council of the City of Fort Wayne where he served as an at-large member for twenty-four years. He never lost an election and his 1971 vote total still stands today as the highest number of votes ever garnered by a Fort Wayne city council candidate. Upon retirement, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by then Governor Frank O’Bannon. He was a long-time member of St. Jude Catholic Church and a loyal and always optimistic fan of his beloved Indiana Hoosiers. He was preceded in death by his wife and high school sweetheart, Ginny and by his brothers, Joseph, Benjamin, Anthony and Frank and sisters, Angela, Mary and Betty. He is survived by his children Thomas S. (Kathy) Talarico; Terri R. (Sam) Shade; Debra A. Caudill; Diane M. Talarico and Samuel J., Jr. (Danielle) Talarico all of Fort Wayne and by his grandchildren Jamie Rongos, Tony Talarico, Ben Heath, Nick Talarico, Joe Schomburg, Matt Talarico, Sarah Heath; Griffin Talarico, Jennifer Lacopo, Ali Eddy, George Talarico, Alice Talarico and Sophia Talarico and by twenty-five great-grandchildren; and by hundreds of former students and players. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Monday, September 20, 2021, at St. Jude Catholic Church, 2155 Randallia Dr, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Visitation will be Sunday, September 19, 2021 from 2 pm to 8 pm at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne. Burial in the Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Jude School Scholarship Fund (Sam and Virginia Talarico Awards). To sign the online guest book, go to www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com.