James Salerno

February 16, 1927 – February 8, 2020

James Salerno, died on February 8, 2020 of congestive heart failure. He was a resident of Riderwood Village Senior Living Community.

James is the son the late Peter and Rose Loprete Salerno. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth Fabry Salerno; one of their four children, Peter J. Salerno; and his sister Ann Staugaitis Salerno.

James is survived by two brothers Joseph Salerno and his wife Octavia (Tara) Lee, and Peter N. Salerno both of Westfield, NJ.

He is also survived by two daughters Ann S. Gervasio and her husband David of Herndon, VA; Joanne R. Salerno and her husband Barry Mong of Tualatin, OR; son Robert J. Salerno and his wife Robyn of New Windsor, NY; daughter in-law Susan Salerno; ten grandchildren, and seven nieces and nephews.

A member of the US Senior Executive Service, he retired in 1984 from the Harry Diamond Laboratories as the Associate Director of Research and Technology. He grew up in Newark, NJ and served as an Electronic Technician in the US Navy during World War II. He received an Electrical Engineering Degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology and pursed graduate studies at UCLA and University of Maryland.

In 1949 he joined the National Bureau of Standards in Washington DC and was, in 1951, a member of the group that established the NBS Laboratories at Corona, California. Upon his return to the Washington area, he became a member of the Advanced Research Laboratory of the Harry Diamond Laboratories where he pursed the design of hi-resolution radar and guided missile fuses. During the 1970’s and 80’s he was a US member in the Radar and Fuze Panels of the Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP). TTCP was an international organization that provided for classified technical information exchange and shared research activities for the participation five nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States).

A long time resident of Rockville, MD, he was active in civic affairs. He chaired the Legislative and Legal Action Committee of the Montgomery County Civic Federation which drafted and presented legislation for introduction in the Maryland General Assembly. His activities were recognized in the award of the Washington Star Cup in 1964. In 1964 he petitioned the Civil Service Commission for a ruling which permitted Civil Service employees to actively participate in County elections. The resulting ruling permitted the formation of the “Non-Partisans for a Better Montgomery County” which ran a slate of candidates in the 1966 local elections.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockville, MD on Monday, February 17, 2020 at 10am. Interment with Military Honors immediately follows Mass Service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland.