Obituary of Frank J. Salemme

Frank John Salemme, 89, of 321 Park St., Jamestown, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday (May 29, 2012) in UPMC Hamot Medical Center, Erie, PA. A lifelong area resident he was born August 1, 1922 in Jamestown, NY a son of the late Salvatore and Philomena "Fanny" Valburgo Salemme. He was a 1940 graduate of Jamestown High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from November 10, 1943 to December 10, 1945 during World War II. Frank served on board the USS Sanctuary in the South Pacific which was the first battleship to arrive in Nagasaki Japan to transport our POW's back to the United States. He continued his Naval career by serving with the U.S. Naval Reserve as SKC for 20 years. Upon returning from the service, he married Doris M. Olson on July 26, 1947 in SS Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church and they would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. In previous years he was a District Manager for the former Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P Store) for 39 years. He began his career with A&P as a stock boy and finished as the district manager in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. When A&P Stores ceased operations he then worked as a sales manager for the former S.M. Flickinger Company, Falconer, NY for 10 years, retiring in 1989. In his youth, he was an accomplished athlete playing softball and basketball for several local teams. He also enjoyed golfing, bowling, traveling and loved spending the winter months in Anna Maria Island, FL for 16 years. He was also an avid New York Yankee fan and was a fan of the Buffalo Bills. He loved animals and enjoyed his many pets over the years. He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather who loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a true family man, a kind gentleman, and a friend to many. Surviving are his wife Doris M. Olson Salemme with whom he had a 65 year love affair, his 4 children: Cynthia (Dennis) Carr, Cathleen (Stephen) Board, Candace (Michael) Berg and John F. (Brenda) Salemme all of Jamestown, 9 grandchildren: Andrea (Michael) LeBaron of Kennedy, NY, Alicia (Jason) Gates of North East, PA, Joshua (Kristy) Berg of Erie, PA, Abigail (Douglas) Frazier, Jacob (Carla) Berg, Joel (Michelle Walrod) Berg, Jordan Berg, Jillian (Ethan Gibbs) Berg, Corine Salemme all of Jamestown, 13 great grandchildren: Mikaela, Andrew and Nolan LeBaron, Lauren and Alexis Gates, Cayden, Olivia, Adriana and Carson Frazier, Noah Berg, Brielle and Kinsley Berg and Peyton Gibbs. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers Cosmo J. Salemme, Raymond F. Salemme and a sister Lucia N. "Lucy" Cuifolo. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende, pastor of Holy Apostles Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. today and for one hour prior to the service on Friday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, David Love Memorial Fund, 418 Spring St. Jamestown, NY 14701, the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Chautauqua Region Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 714, Jamestown, NY 14702-0714.