Salvatore "Sal" G. Santoro

Salvatore “Sal” G. Santoro, 86, of Rocky Hill, beloved husband of 65 years of Carmela (Italia) Santoro, passed away peacefully at home with his loving family by his side on Monday, July 21, 2025. Born in Bengazi, Libya on May 21, 1939, he was the son of the late Giovanni and Rafaela Santoro. Sal grew up in Siracusa, Sicily and immigrated to the U.S. in 1956, settling in Hartford. He served proudly in the U.S. Army as a Medical Specialist, delivering babies in Germany. Sal earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from CCSU and worked for Arrow, Hart & Hegeman, and then Aetna for 39 years. Sal and Carmela settled in Rocky Hill and retired to Boca Raton, FL, where they lived for nearly 30 years before coming back to Rocky Hill in 2022. While in Florida, Sal was a member and President of the Italian American Civic League in Ft. Lauderdale.

A loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Sal will be forever missed by his loving wife, Carmela; his daughter and son-in law, Sandra and Vincenzo LaPira of Wethersfield; his daughter-in-law, Kris Santoro of Haverhill, MA; four adored grandsons, Vincent LaPira and wife Caitlin of Reisterstown, MD; Steven LaPira and wife Malisa of Wethersfield; David LaPira of Oklahoma; and Joseph Santoro of Haverhill, MA; along with eight cherished great-grandchildren, Audrey, Bentley, Addison, Rowan, Kade, Aidan, Gabriella, and Matteo. He is also survived by his brother Claudio Santoro of Wethersfield; his sister Nuccia Prado of Wethersfield; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Lucy Ingenito, Josephine and Mike Infantino, Joanne and Joe Fichera, and Tina and Mike Rizzo, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was sadly predeceased by his beloved son, John W. Santoro.

Special thanks to Compassus and all the nurses who tended to him during his hospice care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church of Christ the King Parish, 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Military honors will take place outside the church at the conclusion of the Mass. There are no calling hours, and burial will be at the convenience of the family. Donations in Sal’s memory may be made online to DAV-Disabled American Veterans at help.dav.org. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel in Wethersfield has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.