Mario A. Salati

Mario Anthony Salati, a beloved father, grandfather, brother, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026, at the age of 79. Born on March 8, 1947, in Arnara, Italy, in the province of Frosinone, Mario immigrated to the United States with his family, on the ship Saturnia, in 1955, and become a US citizen in 1962 settling in Endicott, New York— a community he would serve, love, and help shape for the rest of his life. In his heart he always had two homes.
Mario is survived by his loving sons, Brian (Colleen) Salati and David Salati; his cherished grandchildren, Aubrey, Lucy, and Charlotte (“Charlie”) Salati, for whom he had immeasurable love and pride; his brother Orazio Salati; his brother-in-law Don Bergin; his former wife and lifelong friend Patricia Salati; and extended family in Italy whom he loved and stayed close to his entire life. Finally, he always had a smile on his face when he saw his pal “Barkley”, the family’s four-legged friend.
He was predeceased by his parents, Domenico and Grazia Salati, and his infant brother Mario, as well as many Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.
Mario was a proud graduate of Union-Endicott High School, Class of 1966, and went on to earn his degree in Education from the College of Emporia in Kansas in 1970, followed by a master’s degree in education from SUNY Cortland in 1974 and Administration Certification in 1979. He dedicated over 40 years to education, impacting countless students, families, and colleagues throughout the Union-Endicott and Blue Ridge School Districts. He taught 6th grade at Jennie F. Snapp and Charles F. Johnson Elementary Schools, served as an elementary Principal at Blue Ridge, Ann G. McGuinness, CFJ, and Senior High School Principal at UE. After retiring he became a Co-Administrator of the St. Anthony’s Learning Center, and a long-term administration substitute at C R Weeks Elementary School in Windsor. After his time in education, he was the Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Western Broome. Beyond the classroom, Mario contributed his expertise by scoring Teacher and Administrator certification exams across multiple states, earning the respect of colleagues nationwide.
Mario was deeply committed to his community. He was an executive board member of Endicott Proud, a member of the Union-Endicott Educational Foundation, and a past president and current member of the Endicott Rotary Club. As a founding member and honoree of the Union-Endicott Alumni “Make a Difference” Recognition Program, Mario exemplified a life of service and leadership. A lifelong member of St. At Anthony's Church, he served faithfully on the church council as a Trustee and helped with weekly collections as an usher at Saturday night masses. He was a long-standing member of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America and the local Sons of Italy Duca Degli Abruzzi Lodge in Endicott. He was also a member of the Independent Mutual Aid Association. As a member of The Holy Name Society, he would volunteer countless hours at church events and Fish Fry dinners during lent. Every June you could find Mario helping at the St Anthony’s Feast Days and selling concessions at the Dick’s Open Golf Tournament.
Above all, Mario was a family man. He adored spending time with his grandchildren—watching their cheerleading competitions, softball games and tennis matches where he could be heard loudly cheering for the girls and all their teammates, attending school musicals and concerts, and sharing quiet afternoons reading together at the library. He loved hosting large Italian meals, bringing people together with food, laughter, and conversation. His Monday night dinner crew and his dear friends Bonnie and Jim Fountaine held a special place in his heart.
Mario found his greatest joy in the simple, meaningful moments of life. He enjoyed watching college and NFL games in the fall hoping to catch a glimpse of his son David who worked around the country on national broadcasts. He always made it a point to show up and support his son Brian in the countless youth sports teams he coached. As a huge Giants fan, he could often be heard muttering “What’s wrong with this team? They need a new coach!” Mario was immensely proud of his brother Roz and took great joy in supporting his artistic work, often joking that the talent came from him.
A lover of music, Mario enjoyed playing the keyboard and listening to his favorite singer, Connie Francis—even in his final hours. He was an avid fan of trivia and game nights, rarely missing an evening of Jeopardy! His passions also included Union-Endicott Football, the Tiger Pride U-E marching band (which he proudly supported and participated in as a student), the area’s local history, parades down Washington Avenue, and warm weather cookouts surrounded by family and friends with enough food to feed all of Endicott! He was a proud supporter of the U-E Italian Exchange program and deeply cherished his Italian heritage—its art, culture, cuisine, music, and sports.
Mario lived a life rooted in generosity and kindness. Mario would never hesitate to call a former student, send them a card or handwritten letter to tell them how proud he was of their accomplishments. If he saw you out in public, he made it a point to come talk to you and make you feel special. He mentored so many through the years helping students, colleagues, friends, and family with whatever they may need.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the nursing staff at Wilson Hospital, his primary care physician at Endwell Family and his cardiac doctors at UHS Heart & Vascular Institute and the Cleveland Clinic. A thank you to his physical and cardiac rehabilitation teams for their compassionate care and encouragement. A special thank you to his fellow educators and friends who remained close to him throughout his life. He so valued those relationships.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated, 10 am, Friday, April 17 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 300 Odell Avenue, Endicott. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home, 511–5 13 East Main Street, Endicott Thursday, April 16, from 4 to 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mario’s memory to:
Scholarship Opportunities for U-E Tigers
P.O. Box 711
Endicott, NY 13761-7111
(Memo: Mario Salati Scholarship)
Or donate to the American Heart Association at Heart.org.
Mario’s irreplaceable legacy lives on in the lives he touched—as an educator, a mentor, a friend, and most of all, as a loving brother, father and grandfather. His warmth, generosity, and unwavering spirit will be deeply missed and forever remembered. We should all strive to practice kindness like he did. May he rest in peace.