Michael J. Salotto

Michael Joseph Salotto, Sr., 101 yrs. old, of Fairport, and formerly of Auburn and Penn Yan, NY peacefully passed away into heaven on November 24, 2025, to join his loving wife and other loved ones who passed before him.

Michael was best known for devoting his adult life to doing good and serving others. From visiting and spending time with a home-bound neighbor a few times every week with his jazz records, to sharing his lunch every day and visiting with a fellow senior living resident who was isolating due to a severe hearing impairment, Mike lived out his faith utilizing his personal love language which was “acts of service”.

Michael was born Feb.25,1924 in Watertown, NY, the youngest of 7 children born to Italian immigrants Guiseppe and Giacinta Barille Salotto. Mike was a professional clarinet and saxophone musician during World War II in the Army Air Corps Band while stationed in Louisiana at the Deridder Army Air Corps Base. After the war, he received his bachelor’s degree in teaching from Bonaventure University where he became a devoted and life-long member as a Catholic lay minister in the Order of St. Francis. While at Bonaventure, he became an ROTC candidate, then an enlisted officer in the Army Reserves. He received his master’s degree from Syracuse University.

On June 25, 1955, he married Josephine Romano. They located to Penn Yan, NY in 1958 where he was an English teacher at the Penn Yan Jr. High School for over 20 years. All throughout the summers he worked as a Union painter and wall-paperer in Rochester, NY. On weekends he served as a Captain in the U. S. Army Reserves. 

Many students have reached out to him over the years telling him he was their favorite teacher who made a huge difference in their lives.  Michael was the hard working and devoted father of his and Josephine’s 4 children. He enjoyed playing Jazz Music and making home-made wine from Penn Yan’s locally grown grapes.

After retiring from teaching and the military, Michael and Josephine relocated to Auburn, NY where he served as a Eucharistic Minister to shut-ins and served on St. Mary’s church’s prison ministry team. He was active in the Charismatic movement through Cursillo. He also belonged to the National Jazz Music Collector’s Club. He and Josephine traveled extensively to Holy places in Europe and the Holy Land.

Around 2013 he and Josephine relocated to the Rochester, NY area to be closer to their children and grandchildren. While residing at a senior community, Mike became the self-proclaimed resident joke teller to entertain all of his new-found friends.

Since adulthood and right up to his last home in skilled nursing facility in Fairport, NY, Michael’s kindness and gratefulness touched all of those that he came in contact with because he made it a point to make everyone feel loved and appreciated.

Mike is survived by his children: MaryLynn (Joe Tandle), his son Michael’s widow Lisa (Shay) Salotto, Daniel (Cindy Mandravelis), and Martin Alan as well as 14 Grandchildren/step grandchildren:Joseph Tandle, Lisa (Brian Caine), Michael Tandle (Samantha Welch), David Corcoran (Hannah), Jenny Corcoran (Aaron Burliss),Michael S. Salotto (Kelsey Easterbrooks), Steven Salotto, Anthony Salotto (Shelly Atkinson), Samantha Johnson, Ben Husband (Michelle Hollander), Daniel Husband (Anjelika Lossey-Jackson), Christie Leahy (James Simms), Mary Jo Salotto (Chris Perez), and Jamie Salotto,  19 Great grandchildren: Joy, Annabella, Evalina, and Sophia Caine, Nathan, Kelsey, and Parker Tandle, Jacob, Jonah, and Noah Corcoran, Caleab McCarthy, Addison Bulriss,Leilani, Malia, Kai, Hudassah, and Darius Husband, Olivia Simms, and James Perez.

Michael is predeceased by his loving wife of 64 years, Josephine (Romano), his son Michael J. Salotto Jr., his grandson Eric Salotto, 

His parents Guiseppe (Joseph) Salotto and Giacinta (Georgia) Barille, and his 6 siblings Mary (Lava), Joseph, Madolyn (Root), Lena (Navarro), Carolyn (Card), and John.

Friends and Family are invited to join the family this Saturday, November 29th, for calling hours from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the PettigrassFuneral Home at 196 Genesee Street in Auburn, NY. Following is Mike’s Funeral Mass is at 11:30 AM in St. Mary’s Church at 15 Clark Street in Auburn. Interment will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery at 6020 Lake Avenue in Auburn.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite hospice home (Some family members are allergic to flowers)

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