Sam Rikalo was born in Avalon on Nov. 23, 1924, in the upstairs bedroom of the family home on Marilla. He died last December but for quite a few years was believed to be the oldest person still alive to be born on the island.
Sam moved back to Catalina about thirty years before he died and made friends of all ages. He is remembered for his genuine smile, humility, deep faith, true interest in others, generosity, and his love of family and his heritage.
Bishop Sylvester Ryan, who grew up with the same generation of islanders as dad, will say a memorial mass at St. Catherine of Alexandria’s Catholic Church, 800 Beacon St, Avalon, at 12:30 p.m., Sunday Oct. 9.
