Salvatore Dardano, 87, of Melbourne Beach, Fla.

MELBOURNE BEACH, FLA. >>

Salvatore Dardano, 87, of Melbourne Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully Feb. 11, 2013 surrounded by family.

Salvatore ( a. k. a., Sal, Jay, JR) was born on July 3, 1925, in Utica, to Salvatore Dardano Sr. and Agnes Landof Dardano. He was the oldest of eight children and graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy in 1949.

A true patriot and veteran of World War II, he served on the USS Sangamon and USS Mission Bay, earning multiple medals including the Purple Heart. While on military leave in Puerto Rico, Sal met the love of his life, Irene Maura O’Neil. They married on Sept. 7, 1953, made their home in Vernon, and had three children and five grandchildren.

As a pharmacist, Salvatore owned and operated the Vernon Rexall Pharmacy, which was the center of the community for more than 30 years.

Sal was a truly devoted husband, loving father, brother, uncle as well as a wonderful friend to many. He and Irene loved to travel to Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands and covered most of the United States. Sal was an avid golfer and bowler. He was a lifelong devout Catholic and active member of Immaculate Conception Church since making Florida his home in 1983.

Salvatore is survived by his son, Kevin Dardano ( Lisa) of Rockledge, Fla.; daughters, Anita Campbell ( James) of Rockledge, Fla., and Ellen Duval ( Peter) of Underhill, Vt.; grandchildren, Jeffery, Katie, Taylor, Connor and Maura. Also surviving are three brothers, Robert, Richard, and Nicholas Dardano together with numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by wife Irene Dardano, sisters Agnes Dardano, Dolores Martellotto and brothers Jimmy and Nicholas.

A celebration of life was held Friday, Feb. 15 at 9 a. m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Melbourne Beach followed by a 10 a. m. Mass with military honors.

Visit Salvatore’s memorial page at salvatoredardano. blogspot. com

In lieu of flowers, please consider the Alzheimer’s Assoc. to honor his wife.