Sam Porretta
March 9, 1968 - September 8, 2020
Salvatore “Sam” Porretta had a gift for creating narrative story lines and concepts and injecting them into every imaginable event, venue, and environment, including the digital landscape. Having spent most of his professional life in the world of theatre, film and television, creating entertaining drama came naturally to Sam. For a decade, Sam was a Creative Director and Experience Designer with COLLABORACTION, developing interactive and experiential environments for theatrical and artistic performances and social events, specializing in innovative set designs that immersed and enveloped the viewer. Sam’s appreciation for drama was intimate. His parallel career was that of an actor and included numerous roles in theatre, film and television—most notably as a Paramedic Chief Hatcher on Chicago Fire. He worked in Chicago theatre, both onstage and in multiple roles behind the scenes. Sam’s sense of drama and spirituality began as a child of Sicilian immigrants in the restaurant and banquet business, absorbing the theatre of Italian life-event celebration and Catholic ceremony. After acquiring his BA in Philosophy and Communications from DePaul University, Chicago, he pursued graduate studies in Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness and explored Jungian archetypes and the mythic journey. Sam passed away in On September 8 and is survived by his wife, Ania Sodziak, and their children, Pasqualino and Luca. May we all remember and practice his amazing way of making others feel royal and divine. |