February 2026 UPDATE

Salvatore “Sammy” Vatrano, 43, of Hingham, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the family who were the center of his world, after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Clara (Calvanese) and Gregory Vatrano, Sammy was competitive from the start, an athlete, a leader, and someone who thrived when the stakes were high. He attended Cathedral High School and graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon School, Class of 2002. A phenomenal hockey player, he earned a Division I scholarship to Fairfield University, where he met the love of his life Lauren (Donaldson).

After graduating from Babson College, Class of 2006, Sammy built a successful career in consulting and change management. Though he achieved professional success, titles never defined him. Husband, father, and coach were the only ones that truly mattered.

In 2010, Sammy and Lauren married and soon after began the great adventure of their life together by moving to Singapore. It was there that their young family truly began, welcoming three children and forming friendships that would become some of the deepest and most enduring of their lives. Those years were marked by hustle, laughter, and the joyful chaos that Sammy embraced so fully. In 2020, they returned home to Massachusetts and planted roots in Hingham, where Sammy threw himself into coaching, community, and family life with the same intensity he once reserved for the ice.

To know Sammy was to be challenged by him and to laugh because of it. He had a rare gift for reading a room, finding just the right button, and pressing it with a mischievous grin. With his friends, he loved to stir debate and refuse to let anyone coast. With his children, that same fire came from something deeper, a fierce belief in their strength and potential. He somehow mastered the perfect balance of being adored by all who knew him while also stirring the pot with eloquence and grace.

Sammy’s life revolved around his family. He was the husband who showed up, the father who coached from the sidelines, the brother who led by example, and the son who made his parents proud. He was adored, and he earned it.

He was a warrior in illness, just as he was in life, strong, stubborn, and unwilling to back down. Even in his hardest days, his spirit remained unmistakably Sammy.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 15 years, Lauren (Donaldson) Vatrano of Hingham; his devoted children, Sawyer, Brooks, and Hayes; his cherished parents, Clara (Calvanese) and Gregory Vatrano of Enfield, CT; his brothers Gregory and his wife Mia of East Longmeadow, MA; Michael and his wife Amber of East Longmeadow, MA; and Frank and his wife Rebecca of Costa Mesa, CA; his father-in-law Mark Donaldson of Brielle, NJ; his sister-in-law Brittany Sussan and her husband Ryan of Stamford, CT; his grandmother Giovanna Calvanese of Springfield, MA; his grandfather Salvatore Vatrano of Longmeadow, MA; his godmother Anna Almeida; his lifelong best friend and brother Thomas Costello; and many loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Umberto B.V. Calvanese and Abigail Vatrano, and his mother-in-law, Barbara Donaldson.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 10 AM on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Resurrection Parish in Hingham. For those unable to attend the Mass, please consider watching the livestream. Burial will be held privately at a later date.

January 2026

Dear All,
We want to extend our deepest gratitude for supporting us during our greatest time of need—with your love, generosity, and hope as we enter the next stage of Sam’s journey.

As many of you know, Sam has been battling a glioblastoma since 2021. Recent scans, changes in his physical health, and a reduced response to chemotherapy and radiation have led us to explore therapies not currently covered by insurance.

Thank You
The dollars generously donated by the people we know and love, as well as those we haven’t yet met—mean that we are able to move forward with this treatment and ensure the care and comfort of Sam, myself, and Sawyer, Brooks, and Hayes. We are incredibly humbled and grateful. Your prayers and messages of hope have helped Sam and me endure the past few weeks, which included unexpected trips to the ER, New York City, and ultimately Germany.

We also want to express our deep gratitude for the on-the-ground support of our family, friends, and the Hingham school community, who have surrounded our children with love and a much-needed sense of normalcy during this tumultuous time.

Treatment Update
This week, Sam and I traveled to Duderstadt, Germany for the development of his personalized dendritic cell vaccine. The process involves drawing his blood and extracting leukocytes (a type of white blood cell), which are then sent to a specialized facility to create a vaccine designed to target abnormal cancer cells. In addition, Sam received two injections of the Newcastle virus, which has the unique ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and selectively target tumor cells. This therapy has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of his other treatments.

On January 14th, doctors will travel from Germany to New York City to administer Sam’s personalized vaccine. During that visit, Sam will continue his Gamma-delta T-cell therapy, which strengthens his immune system’s ability to identify and destroy tumor cells. Research has shown significant promise when these therapies are used together. We are so thankful to have access to this treatment, and continue to welcome donations to fund the treatment and surrounding travel expenses.

Though we are tired and jet-lagged, the strength of this community—and the hope you’ve given us—continues to carry us forward. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with us.

With love,
Lauren and Sam

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