Salvatore Squillace

Salvatore Joseph Squillace, "Sal", passed away, unexpectedly on October 24, 2023.

Sal was born in Utica, NY, March 19, 1968, to the late Salvatore A. Squillace and Joan M. Connelly. He grew up in Barneveld, NY and attended Holland Patent High School, where he forged many lasting friendships. Sal graduated from Brockport Central High School, Brockport, NY, class of 1986, with a Regent’s Diploma with honors.

Sal worked a variety of jobs from painting to carpentry, but, his favorite was as a pipefitter. Sal was a treasure finder and had the ability to see the potential of discarded possessions and make them beautiful, especially seen in the one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry he made. He saw people in the same way, always seeing the best in the people that most chose to ignore. He also loved his music, especially following the Grateful Dead; and picking up his bongo, at any time, to play a tune. 

One of Sal's greatest gifts to this world was his poetry and his book "Growls, Howls and Huzza", which was published in 2020. Sal has traveled a journey few of us could imagine. His treks have brought him to many places and he has crossed paths with so many souls and lived a life with an abundance of experiences. A soul whose thoughts are sometimes beautiful and other times challenged. He has an amazing gift to be able to put his feelings, thoughts, and observations into words that are powerful, thought-provoking, and poetic. Sal evoked change with his actions, as he was the kind of person who made you want to be better, and shared his light and vision with folks he had yet to meet.

Sal is survived by his beloved sisters, Barbara (Todd) Hobin and Theresa Olivia Squillace; the love of his life, Jodi Richard; his cherished nephew and niece, Salvatore (Taylor) Ciccarelli and Elena (Sari) Ciccarelli: and great nieces and nephews. He was loved by so many family members and friends, especially Keith Chmura and Steven Humphrey. 

This is a poem Sal wrote. We hope you are home in the warm light.

SIMPLEGIONALITY

It's said my soul about me

it is my own

Yet I sense what's not just

mine

is these bones.

More yet the life in the blood

when gone,

'Where does it go?'

I think, I'd like

to believe and even know

a light so bright

glowing warm as home.

up, up and away

from this saddening

well

of darkness I've

known.

-LS

Our beloved Lightnin' Sal.

For those wishing, please consider donations in Sal’s memory to the Hope House of Utica, NY at hopehouseutica.org

There will be a graveside service on Friday, July 26th at 11 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, located at 8436 Old Poland Rd., Barneveld, NY, where Sal will be laid to rest with his father.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Salvatore Squillace, please visit our floral store.