Patrick R. Salerno

It is with heavy hearts laden with love and fond memories that we announce the passing of Patrick Raymond Salerno on July 1, 2024. He was 94 years young.

Pat was born, raised and lived most of his life in Clifton, New Jersey. He graduated from Clifton High School in 1948 and proudly served his country as a U.S. Army Medic in Korea from 1952-53. In 1965 he married Ida Magliocchetti. In 1967, they moved to Abbe Lane in Clifton where they lived for over 50 years, raised their daughters, hosted infinite family gatherings and built a wonderful life with family, neighbors, and friends.

He was the youngest of six children, and his passing marks the end of his generation of Salernos. Pat was preceded in death by his wife, Ida, his partner and wife of 55 years before her passing in 2020. Pat was also preceded in death by too many other relatives and friends to mention. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Salerno and Donna Salerno, his grandson Cooper Johnson, many nieces, nephews, and subsequent generations of his large, loving family.

Pat's career as a gifted tile setter spanned more than four decades. Later in his career, he founded Tile Expressions with his partner Celio. Although he "retired" over 30 years ago, he continued laying tile well into his 80s. If you have ever driven through New Jersey or New York with him in the car, you are well aware of the offices, homes, restaurants, malls, and schools (among other things) he tiled. If you are the proud owner of a Salerno mud job, good luck renovating. Salerno work was meant to last.

Pat took up other "jobs" during retirement. Although Ida prepared the shopping lists, Pat became an epic couponer. We are pretty sure the everyone at Shop Rite will notice (but maybe not mourn) his absence. You could literally shop in Pat's pantry. Ida also taught Pat to cook and he mastered some of our favorites - meatballs, sauce, homemade chicken meatball soup, stuffed cabbage, and sausage and peppers among them. In the years preceding Ida's death, he assumed her role as primary caregiver. He was constantly at her side.

Pat had a great run. He lived, we mean really lived, for 94 years. He was a hard-working, honest, real, and decent human being - a good man with a heart of gold. He enjoyed dinners out on Saturdays with family and beach vacations at the Jersey shore, in the Caribbean, and to Aruba. He loved to gamble, play cards, and in his later years jigsaw puzzles became his go to hobby. At 94 he had a broader social network and more friends than most "influencers". Many in his circle were lifelong fellow Cliftonites, and he treasured his Wednesday breakfasts with the guys at the diner. He was an active member of the Athena Veteran's Post in Clifton.

He was known as many things by many people - Pat, Patsy, Patrick, Pasquale, Deacon, Mr. Salerno, husband, uncle, partner, tile guy, breakfast buddy, veteran. Two of the titles he wore most proudly were Daddy and Pop-Pop. To know Pat was to also know that he was unique, outspoken and some might say quite a character. Pat told it like he saw it and he saw things with a perspective uniquely his own. And he liked to share stories of how he saw it. Those stories took on a life of their own, and were told with great fanfare, gestures and laughter at dinners, holidays, and gatherings. These stories are the stories we vow to never let die. We will share them, repeat them, embellish them and cherish them as we make sure the memory of Pat lives.

May his reunion with Ida be as loving and loud as we all imagine. Until we see you again. We love you Daddy.

Visitation will be on Tuesday July 9, 2024, 4-7 pm at Marrocco Memorial Chapel, 470 Colfax Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07013. Repast immediately following the visitation. Details on the repast to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Athena Veterans Post, Clifton, NJ ( http://atheniaveterans.org/14601.html ), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the charity of your choice.