Salvatore DeVito

Salvatore "Sal" DeVito: A Legend in Advertising.

Salvatore "Sal" DeVito, an icon in the advertising world, passed away suddenly on Monday, July 15, 2024, just one day shy of his 77th birthday.

Sal was born on July 16, 1947, in Brooklyn, NY, to John and Rose DeVito. He grew up in East New York until the age of 13, when his family moved to Elmont, NY. It was there that he met his future wife, Pat, who lived on the same street. After graduating from Elmont Memorial High School in 1965, Sal pursued his passion for art by studying advertising art at the State University of New York at Farmingdale. He later transferred to the School of Visual Arts, graduating in 1971 with a BFA in Advertising.

Sal's dedication to his craft extended beyond his professional career. He taught at his alma mater, the School of Visual Arts, for nearly three decades. His legendary classes inspired countless students, many of whom went on to have successful careers in advertising. Known for his brutally honest critiques and unwavering commitment to creative integrity, Sal left an indelible mark on the industry.

Before co-founding DeVito/Verdi in 1991, Sal worked at various advertising agencies. He retired from dad-to-day activities in 2018, but his influence continued to resonate throughout the industry.

The countless awards he garnered don't tell the full story of his impact on marketing and society. Sal won Gold at every major awards show - from Cannes to CLIOS - and cherished his most prized trophies: his One Show Pencils, which symbolized his commitment to excellence. He also received several "Best of show" awards, and under his leadership, DeVito/Verdi won the Radio Mercury $100,000 grand prize award, twice. His work made people laugh, buy, vote, donate, and take-action. With Sal's creative leadership, DeVito/Verdi was named "The Best Agency in the U.S." six times by the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

When not immersed in creative endeavors or sketching in his black journal books, Sal enjoyed socializing with friends and family at his favorite restaurants, including Positano, Barolo, La Parma, Gotham, Mesa Grill, Gigino, Mr. Chow, Spago, and Market Street, to name a few. To Sal, his friends were family, and his family were his friends. His agency Christmas parties at the Bowery Bar in New York City were legendary, just like him.

A line from his wedding song, encapsulates his essence: "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot."

Sal is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Patricia; his son John and daughter-in-law Paula; his cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and all the people whose lives he touched.

A memorial funeral mass will be held at St. Christopher's Church (7411 S. Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571) on Friday, July 26th, at 11:00 a.m. Sal's "Celebration of Life" will follow at The Beekman Arms (6387 Mill St. Rhinebeck, NY 12572) from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) or the American Heart Association (AHA) in his memory.