February 23, 1918 - April 23, 2018
Salvatore was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Raffaele and Teresa Diano, who immigrated to New York in the early 1900s. Our Dad loved his family. He loved ships. He played hooky from school so he could go down to the waterfront and watch the ships. He took a 5-cent tour of a cruise ship and stowed away. Once he ended up in Germany, and the other time in Cuba. All before he was 18 years old.
Dad wanted to enlist in the service during WWII but was turned down because he was partially color blind. Lastly, he tried the Coast Guard. He showed up at their office every day and they finally gave in and let him join. After the war he moved to San Diego and worked at Madam Tingles Theosophical Society which is now Point Loma Nazarene Collage. From there he went to work for the City of San Diego. He worked for Waste Water, and the Water Treatment where he stayed until he retired after 28 years. After he retired, he was a custodian/repair man/cook at Saint Charles Catholic Church.
He was married to Margie Rose LaColla for 44 years. They had two sons, John and Michael, and four grandchildren. We love you, Dad. Funeral services will be held at Beardsley Mitchell Funeral home in Ocean Beach. Viewing will be held on May 2, from 4:00 to 7:00. Rosary will be at 6:00 by Father John Amsberry. The funeral mass will be at 10:00, held at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Salvatore Diano was the sweetest man I have ever had the pleasure to know. For the last 20+ years, we have celebrated every birthday and every holiday be it Columbus day or Christmas with Sal, as we always treated as though it could be his last. Unfortunately his last was stolen from us.
During the time I took care of him 2015-2017 every morning he would wake up, go freshen up come out and open all the blinds, watch the birds eating in the front yard for a minute or two then make his bed, come into the kitchen and put his hands on his hips and give me a huge smile and tell me “Good Morning” then give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and ask “what’s for breakfast” or “what’s cookin” his positive attitude was infectious. His unconditional love for his family is something we should all strive for. He always tried to see the good in people, he’d say “we are supposed to help one another not destroy one another”.
If you should happen to stop by he would try to give you ½ of his food to be a gracious host. He was limited by the loss of hearing to communicate but his love radiated out in his smile. He welcomed all into his home, He was very proud of his home and wanted to share it with all the people he loved. His home gave him much comfort and eased his mind of worry because he was able to provide a loving warm home for his family. He loved the rich warm colour of the redwood throughout the home and would comment on the beauty of the wood. He loved to lay in his bed in the living room with a slight smile as he watched the fire as it warmed him.
Sal had a way of looking at life with a giggle and little worries I believe it helped him live to be 100 years old. He said to me a couple of times that he thought God had forgotten him since he was still alive and nearly all of his family and friends had passed, But God knew it wasn’t his time that Sal was still needed here for his sons and grandchildren to teach them how to love unconditionally, to share what is good in this life with each other, to watch out for each other, to remember to help build each other up not tare them down because in the end, it’s all that matters.
May he rest in paradise.
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