Sal was an extremely bright and caring person who for as long as I can remember always spoke passionately about world problems. Poverty and disease in underdeveloped countries, the lack of strong political leadership in this country, the United States not doing enough to help all those in need, were all but just a few things Sal would often talk and often vehemently argue. He had very strong opinions about problems throughout the world. Of course, we all disagreed with Sal because we believed that our country always did the right thing. He was at odds with all of us and to people outside the family that he spoke to. After many heated arguments most of us felt we could not reason with him any longer.
As I grew older I began to understand that many of Sal’s opinions were not so entirely wrong. He was very well-read and was much more informed than any of us even in those early years. All one has to do today is read the newspaper to find out how our country is dictating to the rest of the world how their people should be governed , that poverty and disease still kills millions in Africa, corruption in both our congress and corporate America. He was right all along but being a loner he couldn’t express those controversial opinions publicly. He was only expressing opinions that many of today’s non-political pundits of world problems have been saying for many years. He had no outlet and was trapped in his own mind constantly juggling thoughts that bothered him a great deal. Sal was smart and strongly felt that our country could and should do more to help the rest of the world.
Although at times Sal appeared to be uncaring, beneath that facade there was truly a man with a very big heart. He loved his mother very very much who protected and cared for him for all of her 87 years on this earth. He had social problems as a child and that continued throughout his life. Mama was always there to help and support him during those difficult times. Mama always said that Sal has a good heart. No truer words were ever spoken. He gave his heart, love and attention to all of his nieces and nephews who he cherished. He always said that he never had a sweet-heart but I believe that he had many sweethearts those being his many nieces and nephews he often played with and spent so much time making sure that they always had a great time when they came to visit. Sal absolutely adored children. He was generous not only with his time but also with money to help those who were in need.
Sal's love of animals especially his cats to me were very heart-warming. He would frequently feed the birds, squirrels, and stray cats. His cat “kiwi” has lost a great friend. His brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and all the animals he fed will all miss him terribly. He truly was a man with a very Big Heart. I'm certain that God has seen the goodness in him and has welcomed Sal with open arms.
Finally, I believe that there is another brother with a very big heart and Anthony I'm referring to you. Aside from always being there for me during my difficult times you were also there for Mama during her waning years providing her with all the love you could give. And you didn't stop there. You were Sal's caregiver during his battle with Parkinson’s disease always being there to talk and listen to him, cook and bath him, while never complaining to anyone. The whole family is very grateful to you for taking such wonderful care of Mama and Sal. We all love you for being such a kind and caring brother. God Bless
For those that don't already know, Sal’s bone marrow will help approximately 50 people who desperately need bone marrow transplants.
Uncle Sal was my favorite Uncle, which is not something i'm sure he knew. I remember going over to Astoria as a little kid and heading right down into the basement with my brother and Uncle Sal where we would play all day. His basement was like a wonderland for a child; stocked full of cool toys. He always came down to our level and played right along side us. I remember one time when he set boxes all around us with candles in them and we sat on the wooden coke boxes and played cowboys and indians for well over an hour with these little metal figures (which he of course let us take home.) We used to go in the back and shoot off fireworks, play with his mini steam engine, and do tons of other fun kids stuff. Uncle Sal really was like the closest thing to a real life Santa Clause.
A childs early impressions must really be important, because as my brother and I got older and Uncle Sal started to talk to us about some of his strong beliefs we started to see that he had some problems, but it never took away from that special feeling that we had for him. Now that I have two children of my own, I always think about how Uncle Sal jumped right in with us and played right along side us, and I try to do the same with my boys in an attempt to gain as much love and affection from them as Uncle Sal gained from me. I know that if Uncle Sal was completely mentally healthy that he probably would not have taken as much joy into being with children, and would not have been the same Uncle Sal to us. Uncle Sal's kind spirit, caring and generosity will never be forgotten. I love you and I respect you; I would not have wanted to see you suffer from advanced Parkinsons. Rest in peace Uncle Sal.
Rest in peace.