Obituary of Francis P. Salvatore, Sr., MD

Salvatore, Francis Paul Sr., also known as “Jerry”, passed away peacefully at home on February 9th in Princeton after a prolonged illness with his wife of 30 years by his side. Jerry was born on July 30, 1923 in North Wildwood, NJ to Katherine Ricco Salvatore and Gennaro Salvatore, both originally from Margherita Di Savoia, Puglia, Italy, and raised in Wildwood, NJ and Miami, Florida. Jerry was a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Dr. Debra-Lynn Day-Salvatore, and proud father to his surviving children, Dr. Francis Paul Salvatore, Sr. and wife Stella of Brick, NJ, Joseph Michael Salvatore and wife Diane of Tempe, AZ, Suzanne Marie Neville and husband David of Tarboro, NC, Rosemarie Anne Smith of Cornwall, NY, and Michael Aria Salvatore of New York City, NY. Jerry was predeceased by his daughter, Nancy Catherine Salvatore-Talian, son, Paul Jerry Salvatore, and sons-in-law Richard Smith and Stephen Talian. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Joseph Salvatore and wife Patricia Anne of Cape May, NJ, sister-in-law, Dr. Paula Marie Colletti and husband Anthony of Chester Springs, PA, niece, Dr. Kate Salvatore Banks and husband Stephen of Cranbury, NJ, and nephew and best buddy, Dr. Rick Salvatore and wife Sherri of Pennington, NJ, as well as 16 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and innumerable extended family members and friends. Jerry graduated from Wildwood High School, Class of 1941 where he was a track star in discus, javelin, and shot put and football standout, attracting the attention of the University of Florida, Gainesville where he played quarterback from 1941-1942 and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Class of 1944, where he played the position of fullback and was a member of Gamma Phi of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Jerry earned his Medical Degree from Hahnemann Medical College, Class of 1948, and interned at Jersey City Medical Center from 1948-1949 and at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in 1949. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Woman’s Hospital, Division of St. Luke’s Hospital, NY between 1952-1955 and became a Fellow of the NJ Obstetrical and Gynecological Society beginning in 1957. He achieved Fellowship in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1961 and in the American College of Surgeons in 1963. Jerry enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps in 1942 during WW II and was honorably discharged for enlistment in the US Naval Reserve in 1943, where he enrolled in the V-12 Navy College Training Program and was honorably discharged in 1947. He was called into active service during the Korean War, joining the Air Force Reserves in 1950 and was honorably discharged in 1952. While stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas between 1950 and 1951, he opened the Obstetrical ward of the base hospital and served as Officer in Charge of the Ob/Gyn Service. He was ultimately assigned to Mitchel Air Force Base in NY after serving in England. Jerry practiced general medicine from 1949 to 1950 in Jersey City, NJ administering to people in their own homes. He opened his private practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Englewood in 1956 and delivered over 3,000 babies, most of them at Englewood Hospital, before retiring from active practice in 1993. Passionate about cooking since high school, he gained international recognition for winning $32,000 on the $64,000 Question on May 29, 1956 in the category cooking after appearing in an article in the New York Times Magazine, “When a Man is the Family Chef”. He subsequently was chosen to be obstetrician to Candy Toxton, the wife of the show’s master of ceremonies, Hal March, and taught cooking classes as time permitted. Jerry was an avid golfer and tennis player and long-time member of the Knickerbocker Country Club of Tenafly, NJ where he was a club champion in golf. He enjoyed writing poetry and fictional novels and was a keen reader of the NY Times, especially savoring the daily crossword puzzle. After residing for many years in Bergen County and moving to Princeton in 1993 with his wife, Debra-Lynn, he joined Friends of the Princeton University Library and the Evergreen Forum at the Princeton Senior Resource Center where he taught courses on his beloved James Joyce and the NY Times’ Tuesday Science Section. Jerry was an ardent supporter of women’s rights and women’s health and was actively involved with Planned Parenthood. He also volunteered his time to teach and mentor Ob/Gyn residents at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. Jerry was a superb clinician and surgeon and a true renaissance man. He was beloved by his patients and all who met him and will be sorely missed. Visitation will be from 3:00pm to 7:00pm on Wednesday February 14, 2018 at the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Inc. 205 Rhode Hall Rd. Monroe Twp., NJ 08831, 732-521-0555. A funeral service will begin at 6:00pm during the visitation hours on Wednesday at the funeral home. Cremation is private. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made in his name to Planned Parenthood or Saint Peter’s Foundation located at 254 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.