Obituary: Salomone, John Jr.
Age 93
SALOMONE,
John Jr.
(Age 93)
John was born on October 31, 1922 in Yukon, PA to John and Susan (Yazzani) Salomone, the fourth of eleven children.
He slipped away peacefully on April 16, 2016, surrounded by his family at Hospice House North, in Spokane, WA.
John grew up in a multicultural coal mining town in western Pennsylvania.
He had fond memories of his childhood with his large Italian family, helping to make sausage, caring for their cows, and playing sports (hockey, soccer, and baseball).
After graduating high school, he worked with his father and grandfather in the coal mines, of which in later years he was most proud.
He was honored to serve in the Army in WWII as a first generation Italian-American.
In 1948, the family moved to Euclid, OH, where he began working at TRW, an aerospace and automotive company, taking college courses, and enjoying the cultural opportunities of Cleveland.
In 1955, he met the love of his life, Janet R. Johnston.
The following year they moved to Florida and married.
They lived in Miami for eight years, where their daughter Marianne was born.
John became a tile setter, working in the construction of large hotels in Miami Beach.
While there, his mother and siblings enjoyed frequent visits.
When they returned to Euclid in 1965, John worked with his brothers in various businesses, and later worked as an operating engineer for The Hollenden House hotel in downtown Cleveland.
In 1980, his daughter took him to Calascio, Abruzzo, Italy, where his family have lived for hundreds of years as sheepherders.
This journey was very important to him.
After his retirement in 1987, John and Janet moved to the Pacific Northwest and settled in Port Orchard, WA near their daughter and granddaughters.
While in Port Orchard, they joined the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) and became members of the Cataldo Lodge in Bremerton.
In 1994, Janet and John followed their daughter and family to Spokane.
There they continued their involvement in the Grand Lodge of the Northwest, joining the American-Italian Club in Spokane.
John enjoyed the fellowship and keeping alive his interest in his Italian heritage.
John’s entire life was spent reading great philosophers, writing down ideas that were important to him and applying them to his life.
Thus his wisdom and strength enriched the lives of those who knew him.
He enjoyed woodworking, crafting furniture and making beautiful sculptures, especially the crosses he made and contributed to so many local church schools for their fundraising auctions in Spokane and Ohio.
His pleasure was in giving of himself to others, and he had a lifelong interest in supporting social justice causes.
Worker’s rights, racial equality and the peace movement were especially important to him.
He felt privileged to march with Dr. Spock in Cleveland against the war in Vietnam.
In 2001, John became Roman Catholic, and followed Father Rompa to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, where he felt their community practiced the teachings of Jesus.
John loved gardening and making his own pasta and sauces, nut roll, pane frita, and fresh-picked blackberry cobblers.
He also enjoyed traveling throughout the Northwest with his wife.
He grew up listening to “Rosey” Rowswell announce the Pittsburgh Pirates games, and was an avid fan of the game of baseball.
He especially enjoyed the ten good years the Seattle Mariners were managed by Lou Piniella.
He had a love of opera and Italian tenors.
He saw Pavarotti in concert in the 70s, and watched often the recording of the 1990 Three Tenors Concert.
John was very witty and had a wonderful sense of humor and timing.
A joke was always better when he told it.
He was always able to come up with an appropriate line or good story to entertain or lighten the situation.
These are only some of the things that made John special.
When he passed, he was in his sixtieth year of marriage to his dear wife, Janet.
They were fortunate to have a very special relationship, based in serious and lighthearted conversation, and a shared love of learning.
They enjoyed every moment of being together, more than can be expressed in words.
He is also survived by his daughter, Marianne Salomone Barrentine and son-in-law Wayne Barrentine, of Deer Park, WA; they blessed his life.
And by his granddaughters, Emily and Erin, of Washington, DC; he was so proud of the women they became.
John was preceded in death by his beloved parents and his loving brothers and sisters: Nick, Mary Salamone, Anna Pardi, Alfred, and Raymond; cousin Erma Ruzina; two nieces; and one nephew.
He is survived by five sisters whom he cherished: Isabel Ramona, Caroline “Minnie” Dienes (Franz), Clara Mercurio, Helen Fleck, and Beatrice Byrne, who still reside in the Cleveland area.
Also by his dear cousin, Dolores Frasca of Monument, CO, 29 nieces and nephews, and many grandnephews and grandnieces; he loved them all.
John has been such an important part of our lives, it is hard to imagine what we are going to do without him.
But his wisdom and guidance and love will help us.
We thank Dr. Michael C. Kerkering for his special care and counsel.
Funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 30, 2016, at 11:00am and will be celebrated at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 2120 E. First St., Spokane, WA 99202.
A reception will follow at the church hall.
A private committal service will be held at Holy Cross Chapel and Mausoleum on Monday, May 2, 2016.
In remembrance of John’s life, we would ask that, in the words of Aldous Huxley, we all “try to be a little kinder.”
Arrangements have been entrusted to: