Salvatore Fericano

1946 - 2022

Salvatore Fericano
November 11, 1946 - May 23, 2022
Salvatore Martin Fericano, age 75, died early Monday morning May 23, 2022, at his residence in Cottage Grove, Oregon, after a three-year battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born on November 11, 1946, in Boston, but spent his entire childhood in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley neighborhood in the family home on Teddy Avenue.
Salvi, as he was lovingly called by family and friends, was the oldest of twelve children born to first generation Sicilian Americans, Frank and Josephine Fericano. He was a member of the first eighth grade graduating class (1960) of St. Paul of the Shipwreck, and became one of the first boys from the school to enter St. Anthony's Seminary in Santa Barbara to study for the Franciscan priesthood. Salvi left St. Anthony's after his sophomore year and graduated from South San Francisco High School in 1964.
As a young adult he found work as a merchant marine, salesman, office clerk and house painter. In 1968, after purchasing his first guitar, he discovered his life's purpose and pursued his love of music. Over the next fifty years he wrote, performed and recorded songs under his stage name, Salvi Durango. Some of the musicians, artists and friends he collaborated with included Pete Seeger, Willie Nelson, Paula Nelson, Lady Bianca, Stephen Hart, Matt Hubbard, Guno Ronde, Robb Kidd, JT Holt and Brian Bekon.
Big, tall, long-haired, bearded and dressed in black, Salvi used his outlaw persona to channel life's joy, sorrow, anger and playful exuberance into clever songs that often masked personal pain. As the oldest in the family, he felt an enormous responsibility to help his younger siblings navigate the minefield of their parents' painful divorce in 1966. There was never any doubt about how much he truly loved his brothers and sisters and how much they all loved him in return.
Salvi was a courageous survivor of clergy abuse. Like so many others who were harmed as children, he tended his wounds in silence. His distrust of religion and all patriarchal institutions helped fuel his desire to find beauty and create art. In the end, it was music that lifted his spirit and a sense of humor that rescued him.
Salvi was preceded in death by his loving parents, Frank Paul Fericano and Josephine Angelina (Anello) Kimball, and by his sister and childhood side-kick, Josephine "Jody" (Fericano) DeWoody. He is remembered with love by his former wife, Merla (Asuncion) Fericano of Santa Rosa who was, in Salvi's own words, "an angel." His laughter will be forever missed by all of his ten siblings, Paul (Kathy), Anna Maria, Tony, Joe, Francesca, Frank, Nancy, Therese, Mary Rose and John (Yi).
He is lovingly remembered by his nephews and nieces, Darla, Sonshine, Harmony, Ben, Angelina, Kate, Tim, Josephine, Jennifer, Anthony, Michael, Sofia and Sean, and by his many, many cousins, Lorraine Nordin, Cathy Nordin, Evamarie Clarke, Ed Farinsky, Josephine Corso, Gina Corso, Dick Corso, Robert Anello, John Anello, Michael Anello, David Anello, Francesca Anello, Theresa Bellotti, Rob Anello, Barry Anello, Tony Anello, Jr., Steve Anello, Tamara La Rossa, Ralph La Rossa, Mary White, Bernadette Black, Tom Stryker, Catherine Stryker, Betty Stryker, Mary Wetmore, Frances Rose Danner, Gary Bonnici, Rosemary Clerici, George Clerici, and Tim Bonnici, his true blue pal.
In Boston, he is remembered with love and affection by his uncles, Tony Firicano (Peggy) and Richard Firicano (Franca), and countless more cousins.
The family is grateful to their sister, Francesca, who lovingly devoted herself to Salvi's care and well-being, particularly in his last weeks; to Merla, Salvi's former wife, who was always there; and to staff and hospice at Coast Fork Nursing Center in Cottage Grove, Oregon, who accepted him with kindness and compassion.
A private family memorial will be held in Ashland, Oregon. At Salvi's request, please consider a donation to the International Red Cross to assist and comfort the people of Ukraine.