Thomas L. Salvatore Jr.

Thomas Salvatore, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and longtime resident of Bonita Springs, Florida, died unexpectedly on August 22,, 2023 at the age of 64. Deeply loved and cherished by his family, Tom is survived by his wife, Deborah Lynn Grippo Salvatore; their sons, Thomas Matthew Salvatore and Anthony Michael Grippo; Tom's mother, Amelia Salvatore; brother Christian Salvatore and nephews Stephen and Michael Salvatore.
Tom was born May 23, 1959, in Abington, Pennsylvania. As the eldest of three boys growing up in tough neighborhoods in Philadelphia, he was the defender of his younger siblings whenever they were bullied. He detested bullies and anyone, whether on the streets or in the political arena, who exploited the vulnerabilities of others.
In high school Tom ran track for the Roman Catholic High School in Center City, Philadelphia, where they practiced on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and ran up the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Unlike Sly Stallone in the movie "Rocky," however, Tom and his teammates had to run up the stairs sideways.
Tom earned an associate degree from the American Institute of Drafting in 1981 and worked professionally as a draftsman in the electronics manufacturing industry, working his way up to executive-level roles providing oversight of production planning and materials management.
Tom was a star player for the Wolfpack, a men's hockey team, and introduced his son Tommy to hockey by coaching for the Rink Rats in a youth hockey league in the Northeast Philadelphia. He was an avid Phillies sports fan, closely following the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers. He once said that if he could be reincarnated as a sports figure, he would return as Hall of Fame center and two-time Stanley Cup winner Bobby Clark, because Clark made the most impossible shots to score goals.
Like the wolf, Tom's priority was his family. He spent every available moment with his wife and sons, eschewing the proverbial rat race in order to be fully present whenever family members needed him. He offered his good counsel to his sons whenever they faced difficult choices or decisions and cared diligently for his mother after the death of his father.
His home was truly his castle. Tom was a skilled craftsman who renovated several homes, installing drywall, trim, kitchens and bathrooms by himself. He loved traditional Italian family dinners served nightly by his wife Debbie and enjoyed decorating the house for Christmas each year.
He also loved to travel and made numerous family trips to Italy, enjoying the Abruzzo region where his great grandfather was born, and the Dolomites, where he drove the Passo dello Stelvio, a mountain pass in the region bordering Switzerland. In the towns along the route, he was able to learn more about his combined German-Italian heritage.
Tom loved history, visiting many historical sites in both the U.S. and Europe. In Verona Italy he listened enraptured to an opera performed in a Roman amphitheater built in 30 AD. His favorite monument in Paris was the Sainte-Chappelle, built in the 12th century to house relics from the passion of Christ.
Visitation and viewing hours are Friday, August 25th from 4:00-7:00 PM at Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home, 28300 Tamiami Trail South, Bonita Springs. A funeral mass celebrating Tom's life will take place Saturday, August 26th at 11:00 AM at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 9801 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL.
Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.