The John Stuart Fields Family Home Page:Information about Joseph Michael Salerno
Joseph Michael Salerno (b. 12 Jan 1917, d. 22 Sep 2002)
Notes for Joseph Michael Salerno:
Joe passed away suddenly on 9/22/2002 after being ill for the past several months. He was with his wife, Edith, staying with their daughter Linda and her husband, Bob in Nashville.
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(the following text is from the memorial service for Joe Salerno on October 6, 2002 at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Seattle, WA. It was prepared by his family, Edith, Linda, Bruce and Paul)
Joseph M. Salerno was born in Port Washington, New York on January 12, 1917, the child of Angelo Salerno and Anne Marie Fasano. Joe's parents immigrated to America from Torella Die Lombardi in the province of Avellino, Italy, and were married in December of 1911. Joe was their third child, born after his older sister Florence and brother Eugene, and before his younger sister Helen and two younger brothers Albert C and Albert M. Joe's sister Helen and "Little Al" still reside in Port Washington today.
During high school Joe was active in Football, Softball and his favorite team sport, Basketball. In Joe's words, he was "short but fast". He also worked as a caddy from his early teens through high school at the North Hempstead Country Club on Port Washington Blvd, where he developed his love of golf. Well into his seventies, Joe's effortless drive would hug the ground before some unseen force would lift the ball in an upward arc for great distance, and always straight as an arrow.
After high school from 1935 to 1939 Joe and his older brother Eugene worked as runners on Wall Street, riding the train to and from New York City in their camelhair coats and fedora hats. During this time Joe also played semi-pro football for the Western Front football team on Long Island.
1937 marked a turning point in Joe's life when, at 20 years of age, he witnessed the arrival of a Pan American Sikorsky S-42 flying boat at Manhasset Isle in Port Washington. Joe watched the Captain deplane as the uniformed crew stood at attention and then followed him off the docks in military procession. From that moment Joe knew he wanted to fly, but less-than-perfect eyesight kept him out of the Army Air Corps. Undaunted, he chose to become an Aeronautical Engineer. Two years later he left Port Washington for college in Angola, Indiana.
Joe had the drive and intelligence, but he could not afford four years of college. He therefore completed his courses of study in three years, and in 1942 he graduated from Tni-State University with a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering. His dream came true when he was hired by Pan American in 1943. After many months of maintenance and ground training, Joe was qualified on the Consolidated PB2Y, the Martin PBM Mariner, the Martin M-130 and the Boeing 314 flying boats as a professional flight engineer. Shortly thereafter he found himself marching with his crew down to a Pan Am Boeing 314 Clipper for a flight from San Francisco to Honolulu.
During World War I Joe was inducted into the Navy, as were all critical Pan Am personnel, and Joe was away from his base in SF0 flying 120 hours in 23 days each month throughout the war-torn Pacific. His monthly salary at that time was $154.00.
Joe's career with Pan Am spanned 34 years, crossed oceans and continents, and saw rapid advances in technology. He served as flight engineer on the Douglas DC-4, DC-6 and DC-7, the Lockheed 049 Constellation and Boeing's 377 Stratocruiser. Joe was honored when Pan Am's chief flight engineer selected him to be one of the company's flight engineers on the Boeing 707 in 1968; the best of the best. He retired from Pan Am in 1977 with over 10,000 hours in the 707, and more than 5,000 hours in the Boeing 747.
In 1947 Joe met the lovely and charming stewardess Edith Fields while they were both serving as crewmembers on Pan Am's DC-4 service from Seattle to Alaska. They were married on April 2nd, 1949, went to New York for their honeymoon, and started a family. Joe accepted a new international assignment on the Stratocruiser and their first two children, Linda and Bruce, were born in New York. After moving back to Seattle in 1954, Paul and David were born. Sadly, Joe and Edie lost their youngest son David in 1969.
Joe entered his second career in 1981 when he accepted his rightful place as President of Salair; a small DC-3 cargo airline started by his Sons Bruce and Paul in the spring of 1980. From Top Dog to Ramp Rat, Joe did it all. His foresight and diligence to obtain Canadian Authority long before a business opportunity arose was just one instance of his countless contributions to Salair's success. He also resurrected two abandoned DC-Ss and donated one to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, The company was sold in 1997 and Joe retired again after his second career of 16 years.
Yet despite all his success and with two glorious careers, he was most proud of his family. Joe had his priorities straight; family came first. He not only provided for them, he nurtured, protected and encouraged them. He taught by example with hard work, dedication, generosity and love.
Joseph Michael Salerno lived a long and full life. He succeeded at everything he put his hand to. He was loved and respected by countless people, many of whom never had the joy of knowing him. He will be remembered and loved always.
More About Joseph Michael Salerno:
Main Occupation: Airline Flight Engineer.
More About Joseph Michael Salerno and Edith Evangeline Fields:
Marriage: 02 Apr 1949, Seattle, WA. (University Lutheran Ch.).
Children of Joseph Michael Salerno and Edith Evangeline Fields are:
- +Linda Marie Salerno, b. 22 Jul 1950, Minneola, NY.
- +Bruce Charles Salerno, b. 06 Nov 1951, Minneola, NY.
- Paul Michael Salerno, b. 29 Jun 1955, Seattle, WA.
- David Brian Salerno, b. 05 Oct 1957, Seattle, WA, d. Abt. 1969.