10/01/2026
Pamela “Sam” Torcaso
January 12, 1946 - September 12, 2026
It is with great sadness that we share our founder, Sam Torcaso, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with her family by her side.
For 34 years, Sam led our store with wit and wisdom, integrity and humor, hard work and faith, holding court in her blue wingback chairs at the front of the store. She is a Central Valley legend who created a place unlike any other with her discerning eye and unique vision for what an antique store could be. Sam leaves behind an incredible legacy that we will continue to uphold at Chesterfield’s for years to come.
Her obituary says it best:
“In 1992, Sam and Michael opened Chesterfields Antiques and Collectibles. What began as a business grew into one of Sam’s greatest accomplishments and, in many ways, an extension of who she was.
Over more than three decades, Chesterfields became a sprawling destination filled with antiques, furniture, art, collectibles, curiosities, and unexpected treasures. Sam helped create a retail environment and community that transformed the antique business in the San Joaquin Valley. The store became home to a vibrant family of independent dealers and drew customers from throughout California and beyond.
Sam loved collecting almost anything that captured her interest. If something was unusual, beautiful, old, well made, or simply made her wonder where it had been before reaching her, she wanted to know more about it.
But if you asked Sam what her favorite collectible at Chesterfields was, the answer would not have been anything displayed on a shelf.
It was the people.
She treasured the community of dealers, artists, designers, collectors, customers, friends, and characters who walked through the doors. People might arrive looking for something old, unusual, beautiful, or simply new to them, but just as often they stayed to sit, talk, laugh, tell stories, and enjoy one another’s company.
Somewhere between searching for treasures, people found fellowship.
She created a business devoted to preserving things from the past, but what mattered most to her were the people sharing the present.”
Thank you to all of those who have written kind messages, have dropped by the store to share hugs, and who have paid tributes to our beloved Sam. A memorial service will be held at Farewell Funeral Services in Fresno on Monday, October 26th at 10am.
Follow the link to read her obituary in full: https://www.farewell.com/obituaries/pamela-torcaso
