Frederick C. Salerno

Frederick Charles Salerno was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 9, 1937. He was the middle child and only son of Ciro “Charles” Salerno and Lucille Cortese. He had two sisters: Joan Wood and Lucy Salerno.

Fred's family moved to New Hyde Park before settling upstate in High Falls, NY after Fred graduated from high school. Fred briefly went to college to study farming in Delhi, before joining the Army Reserve. He was stationed in South Carolina and then he moved to High Falls to join his family, and worked in a machine shop. He often joked with his family that during this time, he was a heartthrob with a custom car, styled hair, and leather jacket much like John Travolta in the movie Grease. It's no wonder he caught the eye of Joan Ann Steiner outside the Rosendale movie house. The two married just before Fred's 20th birthday on September 29, 1957 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Rosendale, NY. They honeymooned to Niagara Falls. They were happily married for over 68 years. Fred was a very loving and attentive husband, often responding to Joan with “right away, dear.” The two were talented dancers and loved to go out to the Moose Club and other places where they could dance together. They also enjoyed going out to eat, shop, or see a movie.

Fred and Joan had two daughters, Linda Salerno and Christine (Gregory) Schmalz, and Fred was a wonderful dad. He was so silly and playful, often turning Linda and Christine's stuffed animals on their heads to greet them when they returned home from school. Fred and Joan raised their family and spent most of their lives in the home that Fred built himself in New Paltz, NY. Joan's love of Elvis inspired Fred to learn guitar and he would play Elvis songs for her. Elvis records were often playing in the house and Fred would imitate Elvis's “Bubba Bubbas” to Linda and Christine while decorating the Christmas tree.

Fred worked at IBM in Poughkeepsie, where at first he was an apprentice in the tool shop and eventually worked his way up to being a project manager. Despite several offers to move to other IBM locations around the country, Fred and Joan stayed in New Paltz where they enjoyed the mountains and had family close by. After his retirement from IBM, Fred started a handyman business, “All Around Handyman.” His attention to detail and determination to do things the right way without cutting corners were unmatched and made his business thrive.

Fred was so proud of his four grandchildren: Amanda (Aaron) McElroy, Brian (Courtney) Roach, Danielle (John) Fullam, and Samantha (Wyatt) De Mers. He loved living close to his grandchildren and often supported them at sporting and school events. He loved hosting the whole family at his home each Christmas Eve. He was a kid at heart and often made up games to play with his grandchildren. He was blessed to see all of his grandchildren get married and to spend time with five great grandsons: Noah, Nicholas, Callan, August, and Damian. Fred had a photo of him holding each of them on his home office wall.

Fred and Joan loved to travel together and took cruises often, visiting many countries across 6 continents. Fred also loved driving his small motorboat on Candlewood Lake and Lake George. He enjoyed swimming in his pool with his family where everyone would often play “surfing safari” and volleyball.

Fred and Joan moved to Venice, FL in 2020 where they enjoyed the warmer weather and living near some of their family. A lifelong Catholic, Fred always wore a miraculous medal and had a special devotion to Mary. He was a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes in Venice. Fred died peacefully on May 12, 2026.