Could Salvatore and Sammy be the same person?

[Mary M]

My dad had a brother that died when they were children. He called that brother Sammy. My dad was born in Italy. Sammy was born and died here in the US.
In my research, I haven't been able to find any info on Sammy. However, I found out that my dad had a younger brother named Salvatore that I never met or heard about, so I'm assuming that Salvatore may have died as a child also.
I always thought Sammy's name was Samuel, but that's not very Italian. Could Salvatore be his brother Sammy?

[johnnyonthespot]

Well...

There was years ago a mobster named Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Gravano) lending some credence to the idea that Sammy might be a nickname for Salvatore.

Here's a random obituary I just found with Google: http://www.aliferemembered.com/Obituari ... x?oid=1516 - yet another Salvatore / "Sammy".

I had an uncle named Salvatore; we just called him Uncle Sal.

PS: Googling "salvatore sammy" turns up lots more examples in obituaries, grave markers, etc.

[Mary M]

Thank you, Carmine. That answers some questions. I've been used to Sal also, which is why "Sammy' threw me off.

[carmine1917]

YES! My Uncle Sammy, his name was Salvatore.