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Paul Salsini Obituary
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A journalism graduate of Marquette University, Paul worked at the former Milwaukee Journal for 37 years as a reporter, editor and staff development director. He also taught journalism courses and the history of musical theater at Marquette University for 48 years. In 1985, he founded the quarterly magazine The Sondheim Review and was its editor for ten years.
In retirement, he became an award-winning author of a series of novels set in Tuscany and a non-fiction book about Sondheim, gave musical theater programs at retirement homes, and volunteered as an editor for the Neighborhood News Service.
A memorial mass will be held at the Milwaukee Catholic Home at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to the House of Peace or the Riverwest Food Pantry.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Albert E Aubin
October 29, 2024
This photo tells it all. I have been a Sondheim fan for many years and was a subscriber to “The Sondheim Review” since its beginning in 1994 to the final issue. A friend gifted me “Sondheim & Me” and I read it and used the TSR as a companion to the book. The book will have no resale value because I made so many notes and highlighted many passages. Unfortunately when I use google to locate Paul’s current contact information, I found his obituary. Although I missed thanking him for keeping me informed and entertained by both his book and TSR, I wanted to let his family know that he had a great fan in Los Angeles who is sadden that he could tell him directly. RIP, Paul. .
Shirley Fleck Phillips
July 25, 2024
Babara, My deepest sympathy to you and I speak for all your high school classmates. Been phoning you for days (no answer) and my email to you was returned, so trying to make contact. Prayerfully, Shirley Phillips
Sorry never met your wonderful husband.
Jenny Quinn
July 22, 2024
I was in Milwaukee today doing a Marquette college tour with my son. We drove by the old Journal building where I had an internship in '91. It brought back so many great memories, including of Paul. So I googled him when I got home and was so sad to learn he recently passed away. I'll never forget him interviewing me in college and calling later to tell me I got the internship. He was a great mentor during that summer. I learned so much from him, but also he was so kind and generous to all of the college kids. Such a talented and nice man. I've never forgotten him. My sympathy to all who loved him!
Ellen Tryba Chen
July 7, 2024
Dear Barbara, Jim, Laura, and Jack,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved husband and father, and can´t think of a better example of a Life Well-Lived. It has been a privilege to have known him and your family for so many decades. Over the years, my understanding of him and Barbara as persons evolved from "Mr. & Mrs. Salsini, friends of my parents" to appreciating what accomplished, yet humble, people they were and how much I valued their friendship.
What great memories I have of that friendship over the years, starting back in the mid-Sixties when we moved to Shorewood and our family bonded with yours and a handful of other families who attended St. Robert´s. Patty Weise (of that "gang") and her husband arrived to visit us here in California on June 5th, and the Salsinis were part of the conversation on more than one occasion over the next couple days - without us realizing that Paul had been taking his leave the very day they arrived. Oh, my.
"Jimmy," Laura and "Jackie" - you were among my very first piano students when I started teaching, and I sometimes wonder what your parents were thinking (!) when they entrusted your introduction to music-making to someone as wet behind the ears as my fifteen-year-old self. (Yes, I still have a few students.)
What fun we had at all those picnics in Estabrook and Hubbard Parks over the years, including one on Labor Day 1975 to which I brought along a recently-arrived foreign UWM grad student to give him a taste of American culture. None of us knew at the time that a year later Paul and Barbara would be attending our wedding at Hubbard Lodge!
Then there were the dinner parties at each other's houses. Particularly memorable was a "grown-ups only" one my family hosted (in the late Sixties?), arranged by Paul and Barbara, for a group of visiting Chinese journalists who wanted to meet some non-journalist Americans. Two interesting takeaways my parents talked about afterwards: the Chinese were astonished by many things they experienced, but none more than the extent of the U.S. interstate highway system; also, one of them noticed that all the Americans were wearing glasses but none of the Chinese were, somehow attributing this to yet another success of Chairman Mao. Hmmm.
Other fond memories include visits my husband and I had with Paul and Barbara in the lovely apartment (on Downer?) and later the Catholic Home during our summer visits to the U.S. while living in Asia. Additionally, one particular standout memory I will forever cherish is the long lunch and afternoon I got to spend in conversation with Paul when he was invited to Singapore to give seminars on such topics as writing good headlines (and boy, howdy, did they ever need his wisdom over there at the Straits Times!).
My youngest sister has kept me supplied with Paul's beautifully crafted novels and short stories, which I have enjoyed immensely.
More recently, there he was, featured on NPR! I deeply regret that I never actually sent any of the notes I wrote to Paul in my head after Sondheim died or when he discovered the CD of Phinney's Rainbow tucked away on his bookshelf in 2022.
Please accept my condolences (and Otis´s) on the loss of this irreplaceable man.
Ellen Tryba Chen
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Luana emery
July 2, 2024
Thank you for signing all the books that I had bought from you. I am so happy that you and my son.Anthony talked and you help him with Information for the Italy trip. Thank you for Telling him about grandfather's.
Bed and breakfast.That was great Idea. Love you always uncle Paul
Marie Salsini Potter
July 1, 2024
Uncle Paul was one of the kindest men you could ever know. We had some interesting conversations when I spend a few days with him and Aunt Barbara in Milwaukee several years ago. He will be greatly missed.
Mary Jo Tryba
June 23, 2024
I grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin, knowing Paul´s Family. I played with his daughter Laura for many years. Our families joined together with several other families in the neighborhood to have picnics together and go view the fireworks over the lake at Lake Park. Paul was always very kind and had a gentle spirit. I will always remember him with fondness.
Julie Wu
June 13, 2024
I knew Paul from Marquette and had the pleasure of working with him the one year I worked at the Milwaukee Journal. In recent years, he advised me about being an author. I wrote my own autobiography, but, Paul told me the ins and outs of publishing. My sympathies to Barbara and the family. Rest in Peace, Paul. JULIE LEZOTTE WU, MU Journalism '61
Julie Trafton
June 12, 2024
I am so sorry to hear about Paul passing away. I knew him from SS Peter and Paul Parish and we were both Eucharistic Ministers at 9:30 Mass. He was such a nice person and very easy to talk to. Prayers for his family. Julie Trafton
Jeff Salsini
June 10, 2024
I first had the pleasure of meeting Uncle Paul, when I was 8 years old. It was a sad occasion, as it was for the passing of his father, my grandfather.
I shared this back with him a few years ago, as there were numerous people coming for the funeral, my Mother and Uncle Paul were going to run to the train station to pick up relatives from Chicago. There was quite a crew of us children at grandmothers house, and Uncle Paul pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to go to. He won me over that day and for the rest of my life.
Although I did not see him often, I stayed in touch by phone, more so in his later years when he started the Tuscan Series. I would always give him a call after reading his works. Enjoyable conversations. I will miss him. One of the finest humans you could know and I was blessed to have him as my Uncle.
Mike Roeslmeier
June 10, 2024
I was fortunate to be a former student of Paul´s, having completed his "History of the Musical in America" course at Marquette. His deep love and passion for musical theatre was evident from the very first day of class. He was thoughtful, insightful, and cared greatly for his students. His kind, gentle temperament was a comforting element for undergraduates. His class was often a highlight of a student´s semester. As a member of the Marquette Pep Band, I had to travel during the spring to Big East and NCAA basketball tournaments, and Paul couldn´t be more accommodating in scheduling alternate times to complete midterm exams. He was always warm and welcoming when visiting during his office hours. As a treat, Paul would buy DVDs and distribute them to students that performed well. For a class presentation on the history of "The Music Man", I received a DVD of a little gem of a film called "Millions" that still resides in my DVD collection today. It was a small, but fun gesture that stood out among all of the professors I had at Marquette. Paul would also express his devout Catholic faith, with made Marquette the perfect place for him to teach. A lesser heralded fact about Paul is that he visited patients during the AIDS crisis and befriended many individuals that were HIV-positive. Sadly many of them passed away, but Paul brought comfort and friendship at a time that was incredibly challenging for them. During class Paul relayed these important lessons of compassion, understanding, and outreach. I´ll always remember him as one of the best teachers and mentors I´ve encountered at Marquette. His example will live on through the countless people he´s touched over the years.
Linda Cardinale
June 10, 2024
As a former employee at Milwaukee Catholic Home, I had many great conversations with Paul. I loved his novels and his enthusiasm for Broadway Musicals. He was a friend to many and a devoted husband. He will be missed.
Jim Szymanski
June 10, 2024
I remember Paul as a genuinely kind man when we worked at the Journal when I was an MU Journalism grad student. He inspired my journalism career and never knew it. Sorry for the loss for all who knew him.
Victoria SalsiniCocking
June 9, 2024
Victoria SalsiniCocking
June 9, 2024
Victoria SalsiniCocking
June 9, 2024
He was our favorite Uncle when we were little kids. Our Mom always said he was such a wonderful brother in law. Fly with the Angels Uncle Paul - your parents and siblings are waiting for you .
Nancy Peters
June 9, 2024
Dear Barbara, We have not been in touch for many years but I have fond memories of our friendship when husband, jerry, was at the Journal in our early Milwaukee years. We had many nice gatherinss at your house and I remember the day Kennedy was killed we were at your house in Shorewood for a games night. It was a realy shocker for all of us but we were glad to be with friends. My prayers are with you and your family as I know you will be lonely without Paul at your side. He was truly a remarkable,talented man. Nancy Peters
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3601 North Oakland Avenue, Shorewood, WI 53211
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