Samuel Salerno Jr.; Auto Body Shop Owner
Samuel Salerno Jr., owner of Salerno Auto Body in Burbank, has died at age 55.
A longtime resident of Glendale, Salerno died in Burbank on Thursday from complications of pneumonia, said his daughter Michele Salerno.
Born Sept. 8, 1935, in Buffalo, N.Y., Salerno came to California in 1950. An auto body repairman by trade, he once owned several businesses, including Jewel City Auto Body in Glendale, Atlas Auto Body in Burbank, a lounge called Samuel’s in Burbank and Sammy’s Fireside restaurant in Burbank, his family said. He was also a member of the Sportsman Club of Sylmar.
He is survived by his daughters Michele Salerno of Sun Valley and Sammie Campbell of Tujunga; mother Lena Salerno of Glendale; brothers Russell Salerno of Eagle Rock, Peter Salerno of Glendale and Jack Salerno of Sun Valley; sisters Mary Perotti and Jeanne Sellitto of Eagle Rock, Maryanne Masullo of Arleta and Josephine Johnson of Whittier; and four grandchildren; and his ex-wife Yvonne Salerno of Wildomar, Calif.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 133 N. 5th St. in Burbank, with burial to follow at Forest Lawn-Glendale Memorial Park. Eckerman-Heisman Funeral Service in Burbank is handling the arrangements.
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