'A Part of Vienna Has Passed'

Update Dec. 11: A viewing will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at, 171 Maple Avenue West, Vienna.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St Marks Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, with internment at National Memorial Park in Falls Church. A reception will follow at the

Original: The Vienna Community is mourning the death of Sam Savia, a longtime resident perhaps most well known for his 70 years of service with the

Savia died Friday at his home in Vienna, just down the road from the Center Street department he began to volunteer with when he was 15 years old.

Savia was president of the department from 1966 to 1967 and again from 1981 to 1985. He remained active up until his death, most recently helping to run the department's weekly Sunday bingo fundraiser.

He was 85 when the department to the town and community, dedicating the apparatus bay in his name and gifting him with a ceremonial fire axe.

"[It is] a remarkable milestone that few career or volunteer fire department personnel will ever attain and a first for any member of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department," the department said.

Funeral arrangements are not finalized at this time. Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.

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