Larry Carl Salerno

Larry Carl Salerno, Jr., 69, of Sacramento passed away suddenly at his home on Tuesday, March 11th. Larry had a zest for life and a love for music which was rivaled only by the love and devotion he felt for his wife and best friend, Robin Williams, also of Sacramento.

Larry was an exceptional jazz drummer and played both professionally and recreationally since childhood. His father, Lawrence Salerno, and his older brother, Pasquale “Pete” Salerno were his first band mates. Larry was a life member of the American Federation of Musicians as well as a member of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society. He performed in the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee from its inception in 1961 to 2013, was a percussionist with the Sacramento Camellia Symphony, and most recently worked with the William Jessup University Wind Ensemble. Larry enjoyed a yearly pilgrimage to the Monterey Jazz Festival, and loved to travel, especially to Europe and Italy. Larry was proud of his Italian heritage and celebrated it with a love of fine wine and cooking (especially Italian food). He had a great love for nature and the outdoors. Larry enjoyed deep-sea fishing, golfing and board games, as well as reading and learning “just about everything.”

Larry was a respected professional in the field of Construction Management and was a founding partner of Anchor Engineering, Inc. A lifetime member of the American Construction Inspectors Association, he spent over 11 years with the UC Davis Department of A&E. For the past five years, Larry taught Construction Management at UC Davis Extension, using the book he himself wrote “Successfully Managing Public Works Construction Projects.” Larry was a graduate of UC Davis (BA Psychology, 1985), a goal he reached after his college education was put on hold to serve his country in the US Army during the Vietnam War.

Larry will be greatly missed by all who worked with him, played music with him, or simply had the opportunity to meet him. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Salerno, his mother, Frances Carini Wooton, and his sister DollyAnn. He is survived by his wife Robin, his brothers Pete (Christina) and Jack (Valerie), his sister Tina (Frank), and his daughter Andrea (Ed). Larry was deeply loved by his many nieces and nephews and will be forever missed by them.

Visitation will be at the Funeral Home of Nicoletti, Culjis and Herberger in East Sacramento Sunday, March 16th from 1-5pm. A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 17th at noon; reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Monterey Jazz Festival or the Yosemite Conservancy.

Arrangements under the direction of Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, Sacramento, CA.