B. Robert (Bobby) Salerno: Coffee Coach Caterers retiree

B. Robert (Bobby) Salerno, 83, of Port Chester, died Sept. 26, 2022.

He was born in Port Chester Feb. 12, 1939, the eldest of four children of Edward and Mary Salerno who predeceased him.

He attended Port Chester schools, growing up in the Village’s Washington Park enclave, and was a parishioner and altar server at Corpus Christi Church.

As a gifted young athlete, he could be found playing ball at Abendroth Park and the neighborhood church’s “Priests’ Lots.”

Little League baseball came to Port Chester, and Bobby participated in its very first season as a star player for the Holy Name Bears. He was a Port Chester Little League All-Star for three consecutive years (1949-51).

Port Chester’s 1950 All-Star team defeated Wellsville, N.Y. and was crowned NY State Champs.

They were scheduled to meet Westerly, R.I. for the Regional Championship, with the winner going to the World Series in Williamsport, Pa., but an outbreak of polio prevented them from playing in the Regionals; they were replaced by the team they defeated.

After high school, he worked as a roofing laborer, eventually enlisting into the US Army in November 1960. As a member of Third Army during the Cold War, he was stationed in West Germany, serving as a message center radio operator. His unit was on constant alert during the construction of the Berlin Wall and throughout the Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Salerno was Honorably Discharged Nov. 20, 1963.

Upon returning home after serving his country, he joined an industrial catering firm. In 1969, he became a founding member of Coffee Coach Caterers until his retirement in 1990.

He was a gifted and natural card player, frequenting many of the Village’s social clubs.

His love and admiration for both Frank Sinatra and Willie Mays are legendary.

He was a member of the Port Chester Old Timers Athletic Association and served as Sergeant at Arms for many years.

Bob Boo was a PC cornerstone, loved by all and famous for telling it like it is!

Bob is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Dianna Hillmann Salerno of Port Chester; his son Robert and his wife Tatiana of South Salem; son Mark of Yonkers; grandchildren Samantha, Matthew and Luke; brother Richard and his wife Debra; sister Eleanor and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother (Edward Jr.)

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at Craft Memorial Home, Inc. in Port Chester.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at Corpus Christi Church, 136 S. Regent St., Port Chester, with interment to follow at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye.

Memorial donations in his memory made be made to the American Lung Association or the American Heart Association.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.craftmemorialhome.com