Samuel Gabriel Handy, Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Sam Gabriel Handy, longtime Pearl Street resident of St. Johnsbury, Vt., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, in Cedar Park, Texas. He and Marion had been making their home with their daughter, Andrea, in Texas since September 2005. He was born Jan. 18, 1915, in Newport, Vt., in the family ice house as he always loved to tell everyone. Being an "iceman" was something of which he was extremely proud and was part of who he was. One of 11 children, his father Gabriel was born in Wada, Lebanon; his mother, Anna Goleb, in Mt. Lebanon in Syria. In 1924, at the age of 9, Sam moved from Newport to St. Johnsbury when his father purchased the St. Johnsbury Ice Company. The Handy family quickly became established fixtures in the town of St. Johnsbury. In his youth, Sam was very active in sports, especially football and hockey. He was a member of the St. Johnsbury football team - the Iron Men - a team of 12 who claimed the semi-pro championship of Vermont in the mid-30s. Additionally, he was a member of the St. Johnsbury hockey team which won the Vermont State Championship in 1939-40. As a member of that hockey team, he accomplished one of his most proud feats - scoring a goal on the face off (4 seconds) of the New England hockey championships in Boston Garden - a record which was still in existence at the time the Garden was torn down. Sam's working career began with the Handy ice business where they cut ice from the ponds off Gilman Avenue and delivered to the businesses and residences of St. Johnsbury. On Nov. 15, 1940, he married Marion Holbrook in Hartford, Conn. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During World War II, he served in the Aleutian Islands after having achieved the position of first sergeant within six months of joining the army. After leaving active duty in 1945, Sam returned to St. Johnsbury to continue working the family ice business. In 1948, Sam and his sister Mary bought the Spanish Villa which he operated for 20 years with Mary and other sisters Rose and Hilda. In the late 1960s, Sam went on to a career in civil service having already served 25 years in the Army Reserve after his World War II Army service. In 1975, he achieved the rank of command sergeant major, one of the first residents of Vermont ever to achieve this rank. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1975 and retired from the U.S. Civil Service in 1980. In 1986, Sam and Marion moved to New Port Richey, Fla., where Sam enjoyed retirement spending many days doing one of his favorites pastimes, fishing. In 2001, they returned to New England, making their home near their daughter, Linda, in Manchester, N.H. Beginning in 2002, Sam and Marion started spending winters in Texas, ultimately moving there permanently in 2005. Throughout his life, Sam had a keen recollection of people and events. He was a civic member of St. Johnsbury and was active in its military and sports organizations. He was instrumental in reviving the sport of hockey in St. J by helping build a new ice rink in 1947. He was a founding member of St. Johnsbury Little League in the 50s, was one of 10 men who paid $100 of their own money to purchase Legion Field for the youth of St. Johnsbury, was one of the best remembered umps for St. Johnsbury Baseball, was a manager/coach for St. J Baseball well into his 60s and was an avid supporter of all St. Johnsbury Academy sports teams. He was a member and past commander of American Legion Post 58, Elks Lodge 1343, and V.F.W. Post 793, St. John the Evangelist Church, all of St. Johnsbury and of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cedar Park, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marion of Cedar Park, Texas (1207 Magnolia Court, 78613); children, Michael and Betty Handy of Medway, Mass. (11 Lee Lane, 02053), Linda and Michael Sparks of Manchester, N.H. (373 Whitford St., 03104), Netcy and Barb Handy of Novi, Mich. (47047 Manhattan Circle, 48374), Jeff and Terri Handy of Gainesville, Fla. (6102 N.W. 24th Lane, 32606) and Andrea Handy of Cedar Park, Texas (1207 Magnolia Court, 78613); grandchildren, Mark and Cathy Handy of St. Johnsbury, Richard and Ann Handy of Medway, Mass., Samantha (Sparks ) and Bob Ekstrand of Durham, N.C., Michael Jeffrey and Susie Handy of Clarksburg, W.Va., Shaughnessy Sparks of Concord, N.H., Jay Handy and fiancZe Grace Lee of Philadelphia, Pa., Sarajane Sparks of Chapel Hill, N.C., Malinda Handy of Athens, Ohio, Stefanie Sparks of Washington, D.C., Brittany, Krysten, Kayla and Brianna Handy of Gainesville, Fla.; great-grandchildren Christopher Handy and Emmaline, William, Eliza and Samuel Ekstrand; sister Hilda Grenier and brother Tony (Dianne) Handy of St. Johnsbury; sisters-in-law Beverley Hopkins of Lyndon, Lois Holbrook of Shelburne, Sandy Holbrook of Milton and Pauline Handy of Shelburne as well as many, many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters Mary and Rose Handy and Nellie (Tom) Azur; two brothers, each named Philip and Netcy, Dick (Mary), and Sully Handy; parents-in-law Robert and Etta Holbrook; brothers-in-law Kenneth Holbrook, Roland Grenier and George Hopkins; daughter Gayla Marie Handy; and great-grandson Alex "The General" Handy. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Johnsbury Monday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. at the St. John the Evangelist Church. Burial with military honors will take place in May at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in St. Johnsbury. The Handy family and friends will gather at the Sayles Funeral Home Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to The Good Shepherd Foundation, P.O. Box 146, St. Johnsbury VT, 05819.