Anthony “Tony” Sallazzo
1924-2019
Bolivar
Anthony “Tony” Sallazzo 95 of 100 Davis Street passed away on Sunday September 22, 2019
at home following a lengthy illness. Born on April 19, 1924 in McKeesrocks PA, he was the son of
Dominick and Teresa Ciampa Sallazzo. He married the former Barbara Coon on April 27, 1946 in Bolivar;
Mrs. Sallazzo preceded him in death on January 20, 2011 after sixty-five years of a very happy marriage.
Tony was a graduate of Bolivar Central School. Tony enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on December 8,
1941 and was sworn in on December 29th of the same year in Buffalo NY. After boot camp in Parris Island
South Carolina he was attached to Company M- 3rd Battalion First Marine Division who saw action in
Guadalcanal. Later he was transferred to A Company 4th MT Battalion, 25th Regiment, 4th Marine
Division. Their main objective was to take Japanese islands that had airfields; the first being two small
islands in the Kwajalein Atoll, Roi and Namur. From there after training at their rest camp in Maui Hawaii,
they went on to invade Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Tony was awarded five Combat stars, plus the Navy
and Marine Unit Citations with oak leaf clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation –American Campaign-
Asiatic –Pacific Campaign –World War II Campaign-Iwo Jima Medal and the Good Conduct and Expert
Rifleman-Pistol Sharpshooter medals. He was also awarded the New York State Medal for Merit and
Conspicuous Service award presented by Senator Cathy Young on August 11, 2011. Also on December 12,
2011 the Allegany Co. Board of Legislators honored Tony with a certificate for his action in the Pacific
during World War II. After his discharge on December 29, 1945 Tony worked for several wholesale
distributers selling hunting and fishing supplies traveling throughout Western NY and Pennsylvania. In
1960 he formed his own sales group traveling the thirteen northeastern states for some of the top
manufactures of hunting and fishing supplies. Here he called on wholesale distributers and major catalog
houses while also presenting a consumer sport shows in most of the states his group covered. Tony
belonged to several gun clubs where he enjoyed skeet, trap and sporting clay shooting. He was an avid fly
fisherman and he and his lovely wife Barb enjoyed deep-sea fishing near their home in Jensen Beach Fl. In
1968 he was inducted into the International Fishing Hall of Fame in Florida.
Tony was well known for his famous cooking and loved cooking Italian dishes for his many friends and
family. Mostly Tony enjoyed and loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the cherished
times they spent together. He was known to say “Who could have lived a better life than Barb and me
traveling half way the world, hunting fishing and having such a loving family. Tony was a member of St.
Mary’s Church Bolivar, and Kenyon Andrus Post 772 American Legion Bolivar.
Surviving are one daughter Mrs. Antoinette (Randy) Sprague Portville; seven grandchildren, sixteen greatgrandchildren
and three great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in
death by a son Robert J. Sallazzo on May 22, 1985 and one brother Vincent Sallazzo.
Friends may call at the Schaffner Funeral Home Inc. Bolivar on Friday September 27, 2019 from 2-4 and 6-
8 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday September 28, 2019 At St. Mary’s Church
Bolivar at 11A.M. Burial will be in St Mary’s Cemetery Bolivar.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 111 Wellsville Street, Bolivar N.Y 14715 or to Home Care &
Hospice, 1225 West State Street, Olean N.Y. 14760.
The family would like to thank his longtime caregiver Tina Shafer and her staff for their loving and long
term care.
Schaffner Funeral Home
