Nicholas J. Salerno, (86) Cohasset, MA died peacefully at his home, Wednesday, May 21 after a long illness.  The beloved husband of 61 years to Gertrude "Trudy" (Rogers) Salerno, he was born in Newark, NJ, to Alfred H. Salerno and Grace (DelMauro) Salerno.

A graduate of St. Benedict's Preparatory High School, Newark, NJ, he excelled in track and twice competed in the Millrose games at Madison Square Garden.  No one he knew will be surprised to learn he was voted friendliest in his class.  After high school, he was stationed in the South Pacific during World War II, and served his country as a pharmacist's mate in the US Navy, then attached to the Marines. He graduated from Seton Hall University and continued his military service as a captain in the National Guard, Company Commander of the 102nd Armored Division.

He began his sales career at Central Scientific Company in Mountainside, New Jersey, later joining Mettler Instrument Corporation where he was promoted to National Sales Manager.  He moved his family to Massachusetts to accept a position at International Equipment Corporation, a division of Damon Corporation, Needham, and ultimately served as General Manager and Vice President of Marketing.

During his distinguished life, he was an avid sportsman, and excelled in bowling, sailing, golf, and tennis.  He was a member of the Cohasset Golf Club and the Cohasset Sailing Club.  Devout in his faith, he embraced his commitment to God as a member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society at St. Mary's Church in Nutley, New Jersey, and as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Anthony Parish in Cohasset.  He was proud to have trained several generations of altar servers, including his own granddaughter. During retirement, he volunteered as a van driver for Cohasset Elder Affairs, and for FISH (Friends in Service to Humanity).

He is survived by eight children, Vice Admiral (USCG – Ret) Brian Salerno and his wife Alice O'Brien of Silver Spring, Maryland, Patricia Sokolowski and her husband John of Derry, NH, Timothy and his wife Liza of Cohasset, Christopher and his wife Alison of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Matthew and his wife Heidi of Cohasset, Gregory and his wife Pam of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Kathryn Saleski and her late husband Douglas of Bluffton, SC, and Jennifer DiBona and her husband Dennis (DJ) of Kingston, MA.  In addition, he leaves thirteen grandchildren, Brendan, Michael, Meghann, Benjamin, Julie, Carly, Jay, Charles and James Salerno, Jamie Sokolowski, Lea Saleski and Alfiero and Finn DiBona.
He is also survived by three sisters, Sister Thomas Mary (Sisters of Charity), Rahway, NJ, Angela O'Connor, Manchester, NJ and Grace Toscano, Nutley, NJ.

Visiting Hours Tuesday, May 27 from 4 – 8 pm in McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer St. (across from St. Anthony Church), Cohasset, MA.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wed.,  May 28, at 10 am, from St. Anthony Parish, 10 Summer Street, Cohasset, MA.   Burial Woodside Cemetery, Cohasset. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to South Shore Visiting Nurses, 91 Longwater Circle, Norwell, MA 02061; Hospice of the South Shore, 30 Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370; or the Social Service League of Cohasset, Senior Center Building Fund, 380 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy, Cohasset, MA 02025.

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