Roll Call Tribute

Samuel Anthony "Sam" Listi 

August 19, 1942 - January 10, 2026 

Samuel "Sam" Anthony Listi '64 entered into eternal rest on January 10, 2026. He was 83 years old. He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Ottea Listi; his father, Tony; and his mentor, Rev. Paul C. Pieri.

Sam attended Saint Thomas High School (1960) and went on to attend Texas A&M University where he was a member of the Corp of Cadets and obtained a degree in Architecture. He practiced as an architect and for a brief period, was an instructor at Saint Thomas High School (1989-2000) and advertising director at the Texas Catholic Herald 1990-2000.

Sam was an avid supporter of his alma mater St. Thomas High School and enjoyed being a member of the Texas Italian-American Sports Foundation, which assisted scholar-athletes in advancing their sporting careers after high school. Sam enjoyed traveling, playing golf and attending spring training to watch the Houston Astros. He was an excellent chef and was always up for cooking up a plate of spaghetti & meatballs, stuffed artichokes or his famous Osso Buco.

He moved to South Padre Island to further his architecture career and construction ambitions. He became politically active and served on the City Council where he enacted many changes to the Island in planning and zoning.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 41 years, Juliette (Wisnoski); son, Tony '95 and wife Brandi with grandson Sam and granddaughter Madeline; son, Carlo and wife Lynn; daughter, Shelly with grandsons Cody and Brandon and granddaughters Ashley and Addison and great granddaughter Sadie; son, Daniel '02 and wife Erica '02 with granddaughters Emmaline, Georgia, Sidney and grandson Hayes.