AUSTIN
- Samuel (Sam) Dominguez Cordova, 82 of Austin, died June 11, 2024. He fought a good fight but eventually lost a long battle from organ failure. The middle child of three sons born to Merced and Nicholasa Cordova, Sam was born on Jan. 20, 1942, in Alpine. His parents moved with him to Odessa, where he earned his High School degree; they then moved to Houston, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in both Mechanical and also Chemical Engineering at Houston University.
In 1960, Sam met and fell in love with his wife, Nena in Odessa. They got married one year later, and continued a romance and a partnership that lasted 62 years, during which time they welcomed two sons, Samuel Jr. Cordova and Kerry Cordova.
He kick started an 18 year Engineering career, by joining El Paso Products in Odessa; and then continued on to Monsanto Company in Texas City. Fueling his passion to be a good provider for his family, and throughout the following ambitious years, he and his wife went on to become entrepreneurs and opened a chain of seven extremely successful Penny Rich garment franchises, and worked primarily with cancer patients. Sam moved his family to Austin in 1979 to expand the 7th Penny Rich garment franchise. A few years later, he established the well-known Austin’s All Seasons Costume Shop, which boasted of a great 20 year run! The All Seasons Costume Shop became a Cordova family affair, which serviced the Austin multitude of repeat clients. He also dabbled in many multilevel marketing companies; and eventually became a business consultant for budding entrepreneurs.
Sam retired from the business in 2007, settled into a simple life; and began to enjoy the love of continuous education by researching various topics on the internet; and living vicariously through his wife and son’s travels around the globe.
Sam grew up as Catholic, became a strong Believer in Jesus Christ in 1979, and made his home church at Shoreline Christian Church for over 3 decades. This is a season where the All Seasons Costume Shop became a key donor for each of Shoreline’s dramatic Easter plays. He liked to travel, enjoying Mexico; road tripping within the western states, exploring new territories; meeting interesting people; and enjoying life large.
He was a generous man who took care of his family and his employees. He had diverse interests and hobbies. He loved to read; and was an avid learner and student; collected coins; did a little gardening; was also known for his electric skillet cook-offs and his special “beans” recipe; and planned lots of family scavenger hunts for lotto tickets;. He had many pets, dogs, birds and colorful parakeets. He certainly missed his favorite side-kick, his apple head Chihuahua, Mikey.
But above all, he especially loved football, always cheering for the Houston Oilers; and was extremely devoted to his Beloved Texas Longhorns! (It didn’t take long to realize this from the dominating burnt orange color clothes in his closet; and the Longhorn décor in his room!) Hook ‘em Horns!
Sam was preceded by: Parents, Merced & Nicholasa Cordova; Brothers Pete Cordova and Sonny Cordova He is survived by: Wife Nena Cordova; Sons: Samuel Cordova Jr. and his wife Savitri; Kerry Cordova; Four Grandchildren; Daniel Cordova and his wife Sophie; Michael Cordova and his wife Misty; Jeremy Cordova; and Vinny Cordova; Five Great Grandchildren: Mia, Adriana, Mikayla, Izaiah and Matthew Sam was a beloved husband, father, grandfather; greatgrandfather and friend to many. In the end, it’s not the years in the life-- It’s the LIFE in the years