Salvatore T Padavano

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Lifelong Staten Islander Salvatore (Jesse) Padavano, 89, of Richmond, a retired A&P supermarket worker who was devoted to his family, died Saturday in Bayshore Medical Center, N.J.

He was born and raised in Port Richmond, and after he and Antoinette Castellano wed in the late 1940s, the couple moved to West Brighton. They settled in Richmond in 1980.

Not long after graduating from Port Richmond High School, Mr. Padavano enlisted in the U.S Army during World war II. He served in the 563rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion and saw combat in fierce fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.

Returning to civilian life, he worked at the A&P in West Brighton from the day it opened until the day it closed. A jack of all trades, he held every position there, doing whatever was needed. After that store closed, he moved to other A&P stores, until his retirement in the early 1980s.

Mr. Padavano was an active man; his family describes him as rarely sitting still. He enjoyed spending time with his family and researching the Island's history at various public libraries. On the weekends, he liked to go to different casinos and accompany his son on long car rides.

"He lived for his family and he loved to be on the go," said his daughter-in-law, Pat Padavano. "He was his son Michael's best friend."

Mr. Padavano attended Sacred Heart R.C. Church, West Brighton, and St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Richmond.

His son, Louis, died in 2011.

Surviving, along with Antoinette, his wife of 64 years, and his son, Michael, are his daughter, Carrie Padavano; three sisters, Rose Rotunno, Virginia Merlino and Bessie Fontano; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Wednesday from the Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick's Church. Burial will follow in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood.