Biagio “Blaise” A. Salerno

Biagio “Blaise” Anthony Salerno, 83 of East Syracuse, NY passed away Monday, December 9, 2024 after a two year battle with oral cancer. Blaise was the son of the late Benita Giordano Salerno and Nicholas Daniel Salerno of Mattydale, NY. He was born and raised on the north side of Syracuse, and graduated from North Syracuse Central High School. He attended The Citadel in Charleston, SC following high school, where he lettered in football, baseball and ran track as a cadet for the two years he attended there. In 1964 he met and married his late wife, Sharon Vickery Salerno while visiting Syracuse University, where she was enrolled as a student. They went on to have five children together. 

Throughout his lifetime Blaise was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed boating, camping, hunting, fishing, and playing golf as often as he could. He spent years as an entrepreneur working at various self-made businesses both in the United States and Canada, working in areas of construction, insurance, real estate, financial consulting, pool sales, and also as a restaurateur, opening what he called his “dream job”, a small Italian trattoria “Taormina” in Ft. Lauderdale FL in the early 2000s. After a stroke took his eyesight in 2008, Blaise relocated back to East Syracuse to live out his final years enjoying weekly lunches with friends, hosting regular potlucks with neighbors, watching televised sports (especially his much loved Syracuse Orangemen), gambling and dining out at area casinos, and cooking countless delicious and bountiful meals for his family and friends. 

Those who knew Blaise best knew he loved to travel, eat and drink well, and smoke a good cigar or pipe. He was never at a loss for words, nor one to sugar-coat his thoughts. Blaise was a great story-teller and delivered a joke better than anyone around. He lived life loudly and with great zest, and he did it all “his way”! 

Blaise is survived by his sister, Connie Reistrom (Douglas) of Clay, NY.

He is predeceased by his sister, Lucille Procopio (Anthony) of Manlius, NY, who passed away in July 2024.

He is also survived by his five children: Shawn Christopher Salerno (Lara) of San Diego, CA, his daughter Lisa Salerno Roese (Arnie) of St. Paul, MN/Tampa, FL, daughter Amy Salerno Drury (Martin) of Honey Brook, PA, daughter Kim Salerno Brown (Christopher) of Cumming, GA, and daughter Kristie Salerno Kent (Michael) of Cumming, GA. In addition, Blaise leaves behind his seven beautiful grandchildren: McKenzie Roese (Bryan Currinder), Nathan Roese, Grace and Jack Drury, Tianna Salerno, and Kingston and Giabella Kent. He was thrilled to learn of the anticipated arrival of his first great-grandson, “Baby Currinder”, due in April 2025, and he also leaves behind several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Per his request, there will be a funeral mass to honor Blaise at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in East Syracuse, NY on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 10 am. There will be no calling hours. Blaise will be laid to eternal rest alongside his beloved parents at Assumption Cemetery in Syracuse.

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